Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is enhancing how it serves the deaf and hard of hearing community, thanks to new British Sign Language (BSL) training funded by Police and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones.
The training, delivered by Sign For Thoughts, has equipped police officers and staff with essential BSL skills to improve communication with victims, witnesses and members of the public who are deaf or have hearing loss.
Sergeant Matt Jones, who recently completed the training, explained how it made a real difference during a domestic abuse incident involving a deaf family:
“Drawing on what I had learned, I was able to provide clear guidance to the attending officers, helping them understand best practices for communication with the people involved and what to avoid, especially since they were not able to sign themselves. I’ve gained a significant amount of knowledge on this course and, most importantly, I’ve been able to apply my new skills.”
PCC Donna Jones said:
“I was really pleased to fund this course for the Constabulary. When someone reports a crime, there must be clear and effective communication between the victim and the police.
However, people who are deaf or hard of hearing can often feel isolated or not confident enough to report a crime or concern. This means the incident can go unreported, leaving the person feeling vulnerable in their own community.
Deaf people need to have the same level of access to their policing service as everyone else.”
The training was organised in part by Sergeant Lee Bishop, who added:
“This initiative is a small but significant step towards better serving the deaf community and fostering a closer relationship. By equipping our officers and staff with these skills, we enhance our ability to provide a strong service and build stronger community trust.”
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has long been regarded as a national leader in this area. In 1999, it became one of the first police forces in the UK to introduce Police Link Officers for the Deaf (PLOD). These specially trained officers support investigations, assist with communication, and hold formal qualifications in BSL.
For more information about how the force supports accessibility, visit the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary’s website:
Accessible Contact | Hampshire Police
BSL was officially recognised as a language in its own right by the UK Government in 2003. According to The Hearing Care Partnership, one in three adults in the UK are deaf or experience hearing loss or tinnitus.
