Cumbria police to polish up their Polish skills

By Nick Griffiths Crime Reporter

Last updated 09:21, Friday, 10 October 2008

‘ELLO, ‘ello, ‘ello. Or should that be witaj, witaj, witaj?

Emilia Zbikowska: ‘Very helpful’

Police in Cumbria are learning one of the world’s hardest languages to help them talk to the county’s growing Polish community.

A selection of officers have enrolled on a course to aid communication between the force and eastern European migrants in the county.

The idea is to help bobbies get beyond basic phrases and have conversations with Polish people to break down barriers and offer help.

Eleven force employees – a mix of police and community support officers – signed on to a 10-week course this week.

If the scheme is successful, it will be repeated next year.

PC Julie Dodd, diversity officer for north Cumbria, said: “We’ve identified the need for officers to speak conversational Polish to break down barriers and forge positive links with our Polish community. ”

The course has been designed by the Multicultural Service, which is funded by Cumbria County Council and helps foreigners living in the county.

Emilia Zbikowska, a Pole living in Penrith who works with the Multicultural Service, said: “I am sure that it will be very helpful for the whole Polish community in Cumbria.

“I work closely with migrant workers who have moved to live and work here. For many of them, English language has been a huge problem.

“It is the main reason for them being unable to resolve their problems or ask for advice from local authorities.

“In my opinion, having police officers who speak the language will be brilliant.”