Miss-Delectable
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Cops sign-up to help deaf - Lakeland Today
TWO police officers who have learned sign language specifically to help them run a bi-monthly meeting for deaf people in Lancaster have been praised.
Sgt Karen Hall, the Northern Division's Equality and Diversity officer, set up the meetings at Lancaster Deaf Centre with Police Community Support Officer Laura Jolly.
Both officers have taken Level 1 British Sign Language courses.
The meetings allow local police officers and a registered sign-language interpreter to link up with deaf people to understand their concerns and give general advice on crime prevention.
Linda Spencer, community officer for the Deafway charity which runs the centre, said: "It is a fantastic idea and one that is well overdue.
"Deafness is in many ways a hidden disability but meetings like this are helping bridge the gap.
"The people that come here tell me they are very grateful that police have instigated these meetings and delighted they have made the effort to learn sign language."
Sgt Hall said the meetings are well attended and providing a vital link between the police and a body of people who had previously been ignored.
"The feedback we have had has been excellent and we are forging a new and improving link with the deaf community.
"Deaf people have particular problems and they now have a means of letting us know those problems and we can try to do something about it.
"Plus they are now passing on information about what is happening in their neighbourhoods generally, that we would not have known about otherwise.''
DEAF people can now report an emergency by text message, thanks to a new scheme. People who need to contact police or the fire service in an emergency must text 66247.
The message must be started with the word 'Police' or 'Fire' depending on the emergency.
That has to be followed by the user's name and location.
The text message must finish with a description of the emergency. A reply will be sent by the control room to confirm the message has been received and is being dealt with.
TWO police officers who have learned sign language specifically to help them run a bi-monthly meeting for deaf people in Lancaster have been praised.
Sgt Karen Hall, the Northern Division's Equality and Diversity officer, set up the meetings at Lancaster Deaf Centre with Police Community Support Officer Laura Jolly.
Both officers have taken Level 1 British Sign Language courses.
The meetings allow local police officers and a registered sign-language interpreter to link up with deaf people to understand their concerns and give general advice on crime prevention.
Linda Spencer, community officer for the Deafway charity which runs the centre, said: "It is a fantastic idea and one that is well overdue.
"Deafness is in many ways a hidden disability but meetings like this are helping bridge the gap.
"The people that come here tell me they are very grateful that police have instigated these meetings and delighted they have made the effort to learn sign language."
Sgt Hall said the meetings are well attended and providing a vital link between the police and a body of people who had previously been ignored.
"The feedback we have had has been excellent and we are forging a new and improving link with the deaf community.
"Deaf people have particular problems and they now have a means of letting us know those problems and we can try to do something about it.
"Plus they are now passing on information about what is happening in their neighbourhoods generally, that we would not have known about otherwise.''
DEAF people can now report an emergency by text message, thanks to a new scheme. People who need to contact police or the fire service in an emergency must text 66247.
The message must be started with the word 'Police' or 'Fire' depending on the emergency.
That has to be followed by the user's name and location.
The text message must finish with a description of the emergency. A reply will be sent by the control room to confirm the message has been received and is being dealt with.