Australian-first police station awarded with communication assess symbol

A 24-hour Victorian police station is the first in Australia to be awarded with a nationally-recognised Communication Access Symbol.

Following a two-year comprehensive program, Box Hill Police Station today joins more than 100 other Victorian departments and businesses to receive the prestigious accreditation from Scope.

Speaking at a special event to mark the milestone, Senior Sergeant Ronald Sinclair said he was proud Box Hill Police Station was Australia’s first law enforcement agency to be involved in the significant project.

“Box Hill Police Station will now proudly display the symbol in the watch house. It demonstrates to the community that our officers have the skills and strategies to effectively, and respectfully interact with people who have communication difficulties,” Senior Sergeant Sinclair said.

“The nature of Victoria Police officers’ work means we come into contact with people with varying communication needs on a day-to-day basis.

“This means that we must provide a needs-based service that promotes fairer outcomes for people with communication difficulties.

“Officers have worked hard to earn this recognition, participating in tailored training sessions, and speaking openly and genuinely to trainers with lived experiences.

“More importantly, they are now better equipped with the skills and confidence to communicate effectively with community members who have communication difficulties both in person and on the phone.”

The award follows the Victorian Equal Opportunities Human Rights Commission’s 2014 Beyond Doubt Report that documented the experiences of people who have a disability and how they report crime to police.

The report found that people with communication disabilities face considerable barriers at all points in the criminal justice system.

“We know that walking into a police station to report a crime can be intimidating,” Senior Sergeant Sinclair said.

“We hope this symbol offers confidence to anyone who walks into a police station to know that they will receive fair and equal access to our services.”

The officers who participated in the training will now wear a Communication Access pin to help people identify police who have the skills and strategies to communicate effectively with people with communication disability.

The project was made possible through a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Information, Linkages & Capacity Building National Readiness Grant.

Geelong Police Station is also set to receive the Communications Access Symbol following successfully completing the program.

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