Members of minority communities are helping train 300 Thames Valley Police staff in Oxford in better race relations.

Officers and civilian employees are being sent on the day-long courses, the first of their kind for Oxford police, following a recommendation in a report earlier this year by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).

The scheme, which is due to be completed next month, was organised after HMIC said that although Thames Valley Police had a good community and race relations policy, large parts of it had not been implemented fully due to other commitments. These included training on procedures and the rights of both officers and the public over street searches.

The programme is run by the area's community and race relations officer, WPc Derrice Alleyne. She recruited members of the public, who were upset at their treatment by Oxford officers, through notices posted in community centres and colleges.

She said: "HMIC recommended using people from minority communities to give us their perspective on the police and policing issues.

"We used about 35 men and women aged between 18 and 50 who had first-hand experience of police treatment that they believed was unprofessional or possibly discriminatory to give officers an insight into minority communities.

"This was the first time the police had come together with communities in a training environment and it has been fabulous.

"The aim was to make all staff more aware of their professional responsibilities. Some of what was said was quite strong and quite hard to hear but if that's the view out there then we need to hear that."

Members of the public who took part were not paid but received £30 towards expenses.

Other police areas are also undertaking race relations training.