A POLICE officer whose job is to liaise with the ethnic community is determined to make the force's pioneering recruitment drive a success.

Inspector Andy Pratt is the officer in charge of the Minorities Group for Blackburn and the surrounding towns.

He has the demanding job of working closely with the Asian community and other minority groups like gays, lesbians and travellers.

Inspector Pratt has welcomed the move to make Lancashire's police force a multi-racial organisation.

Home Secretary Jack Straw has set tough targets for the county's force in a bid to bring in more black and Asian officers.

The move follows the Stephen Lawrence killing and the findings of the subsequent Macpherson Report. Lancashire currently has 39 black and Asian officers but Blackburn's MP says the figure has to be trebled over the next decade.

Inspector Pratt, who is well aware of the problems faced by the force in attracting Asian recruits, is backing the drive.

He said: "We are always ready and willing to talk to potential recruits whether they are Asian or white. When people decide they want to join the police it is normal for them to have second thoughts, particularly if they are from the Asian community.

"But at the Minorities Group our door is always open and people are welcome to come along and spend some time with us to see how we operate."

Estimates put the Asian population in Blackburn at around a quarter of the town.

With just a handful of ethnic minority officers in East Lancashire it is easy to understand why many people see the force as being racist.

Inspector Pratt said: "The fact is many Asian people think we are racist, particularly young the young men.

"But the fact is that Lancashire police force has a good record when it comes to working with the community. Blackburn and Darwen also have a history of welcoming immigrants from across the world and we have people from Eastern Europe, Italy and Scotland.

"Blackburn is a young police station and the majority of officers are willing to adapt and change with the demands of the job."

Inspector Pratt added: "We have been set very tough targets but I am positive they are attainable.

"It is important that we have more officers from ethnic minorities for several reasons. We want to reflect the community we serve and educate the officers who are already with us."

Anyone who wants to contact Inspector Pratt or any member of the Minorities Group should ring 01254 353638.

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