Calgary police have appointed a 15-member committee to help the service in developing a strategy around anti-racism, diversity and inclusion.

The police committee has the mandate of “identifying systemic barriers to accessing police programs and services.

Avril Martin, acting inspector with the Calgary Police Service and one of two police leads for the committee, said a series of criteria were used for the selection of members, including having lived experience or professional experience related to racism and having an understanding of the history of systemic racism and civil rights issues, Martin said.

The group will focus on areas of concrete change to address issues identified during a three-day city council public hearing on systemic racism, including a lack of trust, accountability and inclusiveness.

“We have to have deliverables that are real and tangible so (Calgary police commission) can be confident that we’re doing our jobs, that we’re doing what we said we would do for the community,” Martin said.

“We need to gain back trust, and it can’t be just from small changes, or that trust is going to be eroded.”

The committee will likely first meet at the start of March, Martin said.

The group will work separately but in parallel with the City of Calgary anti-racism action committee.