THE county branch of the Black Police Association has been launched in a blaze of political correctness and a show of equal opportunities.

The new support group for Lancashire's 53 police and civilian staff from ethnic backgrounds has been set up to improve working conditions of black personnel in the force.

It was launched at Hutton Headquarters by Chief Constable Pauline Clare who welcomed the scheme.

"This new organisation is not intended to supercede any of our existing staff associations," she said, "but to complement them and give out the message that we need to attract new recruits from all ethnic backgrounds so the service we provide can meet the challenges of a multi-cultural society."

So far 24 officers and staff have signed up to the group, including Lea-based Reehana Saddique who has been in the force for almost eight years.

Reehana said: "The association aims to encourage more people from ethnic minorities and more women to join the police - the representation of different backgrounds in the force is not ideal at the moment."

Reehana said she had never personally experienced racism from fellow officers but admitted it does happen, and she put it down to ignorance, adding: "I think it's because they don't understand that people make certain remarks and do certain things."

Reehana said when she first joined, she had to explain that as a Muslim female, she would not show her legs and needed to be issued with extra trousers.

She said such cultural differences would be addressed by the Black Police Association and would help individuals deal with them.

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