POLICE officers are to learn a new language to help them communicate with the Polish community.

Anthony Bond

POLICE officers are to learn a new language to help them communicate with the Polish community.

Officers from the Ipswich Central Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) are learning Polish.

The training follows on from the success of a Portuguese language course held last year and aims to teach basic language skills that can be used on a daily basis as well as some important lessons on the culture and traditions of Poland.

Joanna Michalak-Gray, a member of police staff is teaching the course and teaches a public Polish language course at Suffolk New College. She says, “The officers are all volunteers and have responded very positively. They are all receptive and are keen to learn. Gaining a knowledge and understanding of cultural differences will help to establish stronger links with the Polish community.

“There can be a perceived level of mistrust between the Polish community and the police. Similarly, there can be a certain stigma and generalisation attributed to the Polish community. In Poland, the police were associated very closely with the old communist regime for example.”

PCSO Richard Godfrey, the migrant link officer for Ipswich Central SNT added, “I'm very pleased that we have this opportunity here in Ipswich. By always improving communication and by better understanding one another, we can ensure that Suffolk is a happy and safe place to live for everyone.”