We’re holding the first national police conference on disability
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As coordinator of the world’s only police disability network, my job is to make it easier for the police service to employ and serve disabled people. Basically, 45 police organisations have joined the Employers’ Disability Forum including most of the regional forces such as Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, and Northumbria Police, along with some of the national organisations such as the National Crime Squad. There are 8.6m people who are disabled in Britain. A police officer will come into contact with them on a regular basis in a variety of roles - victims of crime, suspects, witnesses, protesters, or just as people needing directions. And members of the police support staff, as well as officers themselves, may have a disability. What I’ve learned during my last year is that the issue is complex; and that the police are by no means perfect, but are committed to getting it right. Leicestershire Constabulary, for instance, is involved in a four-year £250,000 programme to make its police stations more user friendly to disabled people. More : guardian.co.uk |