North Wales Police has been praised and congratulated for its continued commitment to the Welsh language.
In its response to the Force’s monitoring report of its Welsh Language Scheme, the Welsh Language Board highlights the fact that North Wales Police leads the way on several Welsh language issues, especially in its endeavour to recruit more Welsh speakers and the provision of Welsh language training as part of basic training for new staff.
Meic Raymant, North Wales Police’s Head of Welsh Language Services, said: “As a Force we are extremely proud of what we have achieved over the past few years.
“We are pleased that the Welsh Language Board recognises our commitment to accommodating the needs of Welsh speakers in our work, as well as offering a bi-lingual service to members of the public.”
He added: “In addition to the standard Policing Pledge set out by the Home Office, North Wales Police has also pledged to provide a genuine language choice for its customers. The Force is committed to becoming a bi-lingual organisation as well as ensuring that the Welsh and English languages have equal status.”
“We look forward to continuing with our promise and building on the high standards we’ve already set.”
Among the examples of good practice highlighted by the Welsh Language Board are:
- The Force and Police Authority should be congratulated for the measures which have been put in place to ensure that new staff and members can show basic linguistic courtesy as a minimum
- There is much collaboration in the justice sector relating to the Welsh language and North Wales Police is recognised as playing a very important part in this collaboration
- The Force has established a good structure to their Welsh Language Group meetings
- There has been a steady increase over the last four years in the percentage of employees recorded as being level two or above
- Force is to be praised for the arrangements that are in place to offer language training as a central part of the basic training programme for new staff
- Positive leadership has been shown
Chief Constable Mark Polin, who chairs the Force’s Welsh Language Group and is also a Welsh learner said: “It is pleasing to receive this endorsement from the Welsh Language Board for our continuing focus on developing our Welsh Language capability.
“Over the last 10 years North Wales Police and the Police Authority have improved the status of the Welsh language and normalised the use of Welsh as a business language.
“We are determined to ensure this effort is reflected in the services we deliver for we recognise that offering language choice is central to our priority of raising, still further, public confidence in what we do.”
Gwenith Price from the Welsh Language Board said: “Following the approval of their Welsh Language Scheme, the Board have enjoyed a close and constructive relationship with North Wales Police and North Wales Police Authority.”
“North Wales Police leads the way on several matters pertaining to the Welsh language, especially the endeavours to recruit more Welsh speakers. They should be praised for the arrangements they have in place – they have paved the way by promoting the Welsh language and on behalf of the Welsh Language Board I would like to congratulate them on what they have already achieved.”
