POLICE inspectors are to be given special training to deal with ethnic minority groups.

Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) trainee inspectors and support staff will go into different communities to meet representatives in their homes and at community centres.

The course aims to increase inspector's knowledge of religious and cultural sensitivities of each ethnic group.

Inspector Peter Entwistle, of GMP's Management Development Unit, said: "We have always been keen to try to ensure our staff deal with people in a sensitive manner, particularly if they come from a background with which the officer or member of staff is not familiar.

"This initiative helps managers to understand, from a management perspective, what they can do to help ensure their staff are more aware of the issues which can further develop police-community relations.

"We have had enthusiastic responses both from the managers and the community representatives involved so far.

"In the future we hope to widen the presentation to more minority communities."