Police officers in Leicestershire have been offered voluntary training in how to use banter

Police officers in Leicestershire had hoped for a crime investigation course to improve their skills. Instead they will be taught how to banter in the office without causing offence.

The training, which officers first thought was a joke, is to help them to understand the “fine line” between funny and harmful communication. It is said to “put political correctness in its place, recognise the benefits of fun at work and focus on the risk and responsibilities for all concerned”.

One officer said yesterday: “It’s not a wind-up though it sounds like one. It shows the disconnect between the front line and HQ. We could badly do with some crime investigation training at all levels but instead we get this.”

Details of the banter training were