A cross-Border development programme between the Garda Síochána and the PSNI to promote understanding of minority and diverse groups in the community begins next year.
The programme, "Understanding relationships and community needs", will provide cross-Border diversity training for police officers and staff. It aims to challenge perceptions and promote integration. Both forces have been awarded a £331,445 grant by the Special EU Programmes Body Peace II to fund it.
Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy welcomed the initiative. He said the programme would contribute to providing the police services with the skills necessary to build trust in our communities and promote integration.
"Key challenges for policing are making communities safer and building confidence that the police are policing for the community. Where it exists, prejudice and discrimination are well understood to be major barriers to building the trust and legitimacy that are so vital for effective, community-focused policing," he said.
Chief Constable of the PSNI, Mr Hugh Orde, said the initiative was another positive step in building on the co-operation between the two forces.
"It is only right and proper that we come together to learn from each other and share experiences. This training programme will help ensure that police officers throughout the island of Ireland are equipped with the knowledge and training to help them understand the needs of all aspects of the communities we serve," he said.