Extra training to fight racism (From Warrington Guardian)

Extra training to fight racism

CHESHIRE Police Authority (CPA) has commissioned a pilot training programme after a BBC documentary uncovered officers spouting racist views at a training centre in Warrington.

On Tuesday, the Personnel Committee of CPA discussed their response to last year's controversial documentary, The Secret Policeman.

The film showed footage, taken from Bruche training centre, of recruits expressing racist opinions including one officer, formerly of North Wales police, aping a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

In a report delivered to the committee Chief Constable Peter Fahy said: "In response to the Secret Policeman documentary an additional training element has been included in the initial stage of the probationer programme to discuss the outcomes of the programme and the impacts upon the police service."

He added that a pilot training programme has been commissioned that will be delivered by an external company.

The new scheme, which began this month, includes four distinct modules: foundation, which covers principles and practices, a foundation for understanding the diverse communities in Cheshire, the force's values and acceptable forms of behaviour; public contact, which focuses on the community and race relations; supervisory, which focuses on decision making and challenging inappropriate behaviour; and a fourth module that looks at institutional discrimination, community policing and social inclusion and exclusion.

The constabulary has also implemented a First Contact Adviser scheme that has been designed to ensure that all staff has a confidential and safe support system.

Since the documentary was broadcast, five Greater Manchester officers, two Cheshire and one North Wales policemen have now quit the service.