A RACE issues co-ordinator has been appointed by Lancashire Constabulary to work with ethnic minority communities who come into contact with the law.

Stephen Little, 44, has taken up his new post and will be based within the community safety department at the constabulary's headquarters in Hutton.

Mr Little will be looking at police stop and search and the recruitment and retention of members of ethnic communities in Preston and South Ribble.

He said: "The job is in its infancy so I am very much in the learning process, seeking advice, help and guidance from people involved in all sorts of jobs.

"Our aim is to establish a register of best practice which can be used as a sort of template by everybody within the Lancashire Criminal Justice Agency."

The post is being funded by police, the probation service, the Crown Prosecution Service, prison service, youth offending teams, magistrates and crown courts.