Officers speak up to break language barriers » Communities » 24dash.com

A novel idea to capitalise on language skills held by police in Westminster could help soothe some of the tensions caused by fighting terrorism, a senior officer has said.

More than 300 officers in Westminster, central London, have volunteered to register their often previously untapped skills.

Police hope a new database of language and cultural skills aimed at improving communication between officers and residents will lead the way for forces across the UK.

Borough commander Steve Allen said there is a danger that diversity work is being "overtaken" by a focus on counter-terrorism.

Speaking about how the fight against extremists threatened to alienate some sections of the community, he said: "This is a real challenge, not just for us in Westminster but for us as a society."

Among more than 50 languages spoken by officers on the database are Cantonese, Farsi, Punjabi, Arabic and sign language.

The database also includes officers with experience of different faiths and cultures as well as living with disabilities.

Mr Allen said the service will help officers on the front line and support witnesses and victims as well as dealing with offenders.

He said it is also expected to bolster the ability of police in the West End to handle the millions of people from around the world who visit each year.

Mr Allen said: "We have got 2,200 people who work for us in this borough and among them is the most remarkable variety of experiences, skills and knowledge."

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