A delegation of officers visited Phoenix, Arizona, to take part in the 32nd National Black Police Association Education and Training Conference.
The Greater Manchester force has been wrestling with racism in the ranks since the broadcast of the BBC's Secret Policeman documentary which highlighted prejudice among a number of recruits.
Police chiefs set up the Respect programme to develop the way the force deals with issues like race, sexuality, disability, and gender.
Among those from Manchester who went to the US conference was head of the Respect programme, Superintendent Martin Harding
Also in the team was Chief Inspector Karin Mulligan, Pc Fay Wilson and Pc Charles Crichlow, chairman of the Greater Manchester Black and Asian Police Association.
Pc Crichlow said: "There is nothing like the conference in the UK. It is a unique event which looks at issues such as recruitment of ethnic minority officers and leadership as well as issues around the use of stop and search powers by the police.
"Through a series of workshops, we also looked at ethical issues around the criminal justice system and gun crime.
"But we were also able to bring a lot to the conference by helping to give a global perspective to the issues being discussed.
"In terms of some of the procedures and processes we are putting in place here in Greater Manchester, a lot has been influenced by what we have learned from this and previous year's conferences.
"And we did not come away from the conference empty handed. The literature and information we picked up is now in our association's resource centre at police headquarters so that other officers can use it," he added.
"It was a tremendous experience and I know GMP will benefit enormously from what we have learned."
The UK National Black Police Association is to hold a conference at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool next month.
Talks are also going on for a similar international conference to be held in Manchester in 2006.
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How is sending these highly paid public servants on an expensive junket to the USA, going to reduce crime in Greater Manchester? I don't see any mention of it in the article.
It's a long way to go for a pamphlet or two. Couldn't they just have sent off for them, instead of ripping of the council tax?
If there is a UK National Black Police Association and I've also heard mention that Asian officers can be a member of it, is there also a UK National White Police Association, or would this be classed as racist?
I think the thing is that certain members of society are determined to keep themselves separated from the rest of society and are all too good at finger pointing.
Rather than spend a large amount of taxpayers money, maybe they need to address the real issues, that everyone has to work together and not keep spitting their dummies out - like two year olds.
Maybe the Racial Equality Commission needs to look at there just being a UK National Black Police Association, as surely this is racist?
How pleasing it was to read that as a result of their visit to Phoenix, Arizona, four members of the Black and Asian Police Association have returned to G.M.P. armed with masses of useful literature which is now in an office at
Force Headquarters.The cost of this trip (in excess of B#20,000), as well as its merits, was
also discussed in the national press on Monday 30th August.
G.M.P. predicts a shortfall in funds of B#24 million or more next year and yet the Force seems quite happy to throw money away like this. If the conference is genuinely seen as being beneficial then attendance by a representative of G.M.P. should be seen as appropriate. However for four officers to attend at such a high cost to the public is a farce. Surely one officer could have managed to bring all of the relevant literature
back to Manchester and pass on the good word. Why in todays climate do G.M.P.
continue to leave themselves so wide open to criticism. Perhaps Norman Bennan of
the Victims of Crime Trust is right when he suggests that senior managers are
afraid of being branded racist if they put their foot down. After all the talk we have heard of institutionalised racism, is it not just possible that this sort of situation may be seen as fuelling the fire ! That is of
course if the fire burns in the first place. Sometimes it is more important to use common
sense and say no to such matters, than it is to be seen to be politically correct and feel bound to agree to something so outrageous.