2.7 Training police in effective, human rights-compliant policing in Roma and Sinti communities ODIHR continues to receive worrying reports indicating a wide range of manifestations of intolerance against Roma and Sinti, including racially motivated attacks and violence, as well as anti-Roma hate in public discourse. These crimes are often poorly investigated and prosecuted by law enforcement agencies and national justice systems. On the contrary, ethnic profiling and cases of unjustified or disproportionate use of force, including of firearms, used by law enforcement is indicative of a pattern of bias and prejudice towards Roma and Sinti communities. Anti-Roma rhetoric, hate crimes, racism and discrimination are all factors that contribute to the long-lasting lack of trust among Roma in state institutions and, consequently, prolong the low level of public and political participation of Roma and Sinti. The Action Plan for Improving the Situation of Roma and Sinti within the OSCE Area includes a number of commitments regarding Roma and Sinti and the police. It recommends the development of programmes and confidence-building measures aimed at improving the relationship between Roma and Sinti and the police. With this mandate in mind, ODIHR developed a training programme to support effective policing of Roma and Sinti communities that is at the same time fully in line with international human rights standards. Since its inception in 2016, the training has been provided to some 250 police officers in Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine. 40 DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE OSCE Training has also taken place in Pristina. ODIHR continues to co-operate with participating States to offer not only the training course itself, but also follow-up assistance on implementation at national level. Police officers or commanders who complete the programme are subsequently in a position to replicate the training, multiplying its impact throughout national police institutions. Evaluation of the course has shown that it provides participants with an increased understanding of the detrimental effect of stereotypes and prejudice about Roma both to the community itself and to wider society. Police officers who have completed the programme are making greater efforts to work in accordance with human rights standards, and are more able to build trust and understanding between themselves and the Roma communities with which they work.