Gwent Police is joining with the British Deaf Association and members of the Deaf community to launch a DVD to help the Deaf community throughout the UK to stay safe.
The DVD, which is based on common crime prevention scenarios and is signed by an interpreter throughout, was the idea of Gwent Police Inspector Kevin Childs who, having worked closely with members of the Deaf community, had become aware of their need to access crime prevention advice.
Inspector Childs began working and consulting with the British Deaf Association and local community groups to find innovative solutions to the difficulties they were experiencing. He concluded the main challenges experienced by the community were a lack of suitably accessible crime prevention literature and lack of engagement with, and access to, police officers.
Inspector Childs decided the best way to address the lack of suitably accessible crime prevention advice would be to produce a DVD. The versatility of a DVD enables various visual options to be switched on and off including subtitles, a person signing, subtitles in other languages and a facility for lip reading. He liaised with the community groups regarding the content and applied and received funding from Association of Chief Police Officers to produce the DVD.
The DVD was filmed with assistance from the British Deaf Association, using local actors from in and around the Caerphilly area and two lead characters who are Deaf. Inspector Childs is now in the process of implementing engagement meetings to introduce the DVD to community groups. It has also been distributed throughout the UK for use with community groups and police forces.
Inspector Childs said:
“The DVD is an ideal solution to the issue of delivering suitably accessible advice. It will include a number of short scenarios providing simple crime prevention advice to be considered when at home and when out and about”
To address the issue with engagement and accessibility to police officers, Inspector Childs is also in the process of rolling out Deaf PACT (Police and Communities Together) meetings out across the force area. Four successful pilots have taken place since the first was introduced in Blackwood in December 2008.
Inspector Childs added:
“The PACT meetings provide a perfect opportunity for the police to listen to the community, advise them how we can be contacted and tell them about the services we have available to them, in an environment they are comfortable in. I am hopeful that by implementing the PACT meetings, as well as having officers who use sign language, and the use of the DVD, satisfaction and confidence among the Deaf community will improve,”
Jeff Brattan-Wilson, Senior Deaf Advocacy Officer, British Deaf Association Wales:
“British Deaf Association is delighted to see that Gwent Police is actively engaging with the Deaf Community in Gwent. This partnership was made possible by Advocacy Service, which is being commissioned by Caerphilly County Borough Council.
British Deaf Associations Advocacy Service is keen to see similar practice from other forces across Wales and the United Kingdom”
ACPO Lead for Mental Health and Disabilities, DCC Phil Gormley, said:
“ACPO is supportive of this DVD which delivers crime prevention advice in another format for the benefit of those who have hearing difficulties. “
