Officers from Forces across the UK have been praising a new tool in their kit that has proved highly effective when they are out in diverse communities.

The PocketComms guide – which gives personnel a wealth of visual information to engage people who find it difficult to communicate verbally – has helped those on the front line build storyboards with witnesses and victims.

It has also proved its worth as an aide memoire, with an overview of the many faiths and customs of the UK’s diverse communities. The guides are lightweight and washable and can be attached to the PPE, harness or utility belt.
¬The use of the imagery enabled me to detail what was going to happen to them ¬
Now officers believe that the product will be of huge value in major events, such as the 2012 London Olympics, where thousands of foreign visitors are expected.

The product of a nine-month collaboration between the West Midland Police Diversity Community Cohesion Unit and Neighbourhood Policing Unit together with Midlands firm PocketComms, the guide is proven at the sharp end of operations.

DCCU spokeswoman Maria Watson said: “This project was aimed at narrowing the communication gap and the pocket guide can also be used by operational officers, custody officers and as a timely intervention if there are barriers to communication.

“The West Midlands region is a very diverse demographic area encompassing over 40 different languages and cultures. The region has established communities, but has also seen growth in terms of emerging communities.

“This can often prove difficult in terms of communication as English is not the first language and accessing the Police Service can be problematic.”

However Ms Watson added: “Communication gaps and accessing services are not only limited to language barriers but also by disability – the region has a large deaf community and many with learning difficulties.”

Officers around the UK have been giving the PocketComms system the thumbs up, claiming that it has helped them in a wide variety of testing situations.

Steven Rimmington, of the UK Border Agency, said the guide assisted him in communicating with tenants at a house suspected of being used by illegal immigrants.

And PC David Stanford, serving with Thames Valley Police, said that the PocketComms guide had helped him deal a situation involving a group of Middle Eastern men.

He recalled: “The use of the imagery enabled me to detail what was going to happen to them – it was possible to get the group to individually identify what country they were from and question them about food, drink and welfare matters.

“They were then given a medical examination by a paramedic who used the book to aid him and I am in no doubt it smoothed the communication process.”

PocketComms are available from Patrol Store now at

http://policeoracle.patrolstore.com/PocketComms-Police-with-Pouch-p-13855.html