Bedfordshire Police to Learn Polish Phrases

Reports are now suggesting that police officers in Bedfordshire are going to have to take lessons to learn Polish phrases. This is a bid to break down barriers in the community. The course for neighborhood and police community support offices is going to be run by the Polish British Integration Center at Bedford's Polish Club.

Basic phrases are going to be the main focus of these classes. This will enable officers to deal with matters such as whether someone witnessed an incident without the need for a translator to be around. The first session of these classes is set to begin as of this coming Thursday. It will last for 10 weeks.

Inspector Gavin Hughes Rowland, from the Bedfordshire Police force, said that, while the basic course will only teach basic terms, it should still be enough to help break down some of the barriers within the community. It should make it easier for police officers to engage with everyone.

He went on to say that it is very important for the Polish community to see police working towards improving communications with them. The police would like to build up relationships with the Polish community overall.

Rowland said that the short of phrases that will be learned included: 'What is your name?', 'Do you have any injuries?', and 'Do you have any friends or family that can speak English?' However, they also want to be able to ask questions like: 'How would you prefer to be contacted?' and 'What are your neighborhood priorities?'.

These classes should make it a lot easier for police to interact with people in all communities easier. These classes truly give Bedfordshire a chance to break down barriers and open the door to new possibilities.