Police study rainbow

Police recruits may soon be required to take compulsory classes on rainbow communities to provide the minority groups with better protection, police say.

Compulsory training would help police better protect rainbow communities, which includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other sexual minority groups (LGBT).

The Rainbow Communities Advisory Panel (RCAP) co-chair John Kingi requested a meeting with police after rainbow community members had expressed concerns about how police had dealt with a string of assaults on Auckland’s Karangahape Rd.

‘‘There are reports of victim blaming and the police brushing people off,’’ Kingi said.

Sergeant Mark Clayton said misunderstandings between police and rainbow communities was due to a lack of education.

‘‘Compulsory training would be a huge deal for New Zealand it represents a major shift in the historic engagement between the two parties.’’

Director of training for NZ Police, Phill Weeks, said there was currently no compulsory training for police that specifically addressed rainbow communities issues. But, had a strong emphasis on values such as ‘‘empathy’’ and ‘‘valuing diversity’’.

RCAP member Lexie Matheson said police training would be life-changing for rainbow communities.

Nick Preston with Queen La Quisha, left, and Ima Ballsdrop.