POLICE chiefs are considering advertising in the gay press for new officers as part of a massive revamp in recruitment policies.

The controversial move is just one of a string of measures to change the face of Lancashire's police force.

A Manchester recruitment agency has been appointed to oversee the policy change and is looking at a wide ranging package of measures which will be designed to attract new police officers to Lancashire.

Another area to come under the spotlight will be the lack of Asian and black police officers in Lancashire.

The recent Stephen Lawrence inquiry highlighted the need for police forces to change to reflect the changing face of British society.

At the moment the force has around 30 officers from the ethnic minorities and the Home Office has set tough targets which mean the figure will have to triple over the next three years.

Gillian Radcliffe, head of corporate communications and strategy for Lancashire police, has been involved in organising the changes in recruitment policies.

She said: "We have recognised for some time that our recruitment policies need reshaping.

"The current package is not coordinated and a bit of a mess really. We are looking to attract people with outstanding abilities and need a properly put together recruitment package.

"We have been working towards a revamp and one of the reasons is we have not been hitting our targets for officers from ethnic minorities.

"We have been doing a lot of research into how we can attract people who are made of the right sort of stuff.

"We want people who are good communicators, cope in a crisis and are calm and self-motivated.

Mrs Radcliffe added: "The sort of people we are looking to recruit are likely to be black and Asian people and graduates.

"Advertising in the gay press is one of the options we have looked at and it is likely that we will use that option.

"Other forces have already taken that step and there is no reason for us not to follow suit.

"Someone's sexuality or gender is not important to us, what is important to us is attracting the right sort of new recruits."

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