MEETINGS will be held across County Durham next week to give ethnic and other minority groups the chance to shape the future of policing.

The force announced last week that it had appointed a firm of consultants to find out how the group felt policing could be improved.

A postal survey, targeting more than 100 organisations, has started and will be reinforced by the concerns, expectations and views aired at the "police-free" meetings.

Researchers will also do street interviews in Chester-le-Street, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Peterlee, Newton Aycliffe and Stanley.

As well as ethnic minorities - who make up only a small proportion of the county's population - the researchers will be seeking the views of groups including the disabled, homosexuals and lesbians, drug users and travellers.

The survey, Excellence Through Fairness, was inspired partly by the McPherson Report into the investigation of the murder of black Londoner Stephen Lawrence.

The first of the meetings will be held next Tuesday, at Durham County Cricket Club, Riverside, Chester-le-Street, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

Darlington's meeting will be the next day, Wednesday, August 9, at Darlington Arts Centre, Vane Terrace, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. On the same day, a meeting will be held at Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Market Place, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

East Durham and Houghall Community College, Burnhope Way, Peterlee, will be the venue for the Easington division meeting on Thursday, August 10, between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

The Sedgefield division meeting will be on Thursday from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Cobblers Hall, Newton Aycliffe.

The last meeting, for Derwentside, will be at Stanley Civic Hall, Louisa Terrace, on Friday, August 11, between 2.30pm and 4.30pm.