DERBYSHIRE CRIME PROJECT

With generous support from the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner, the BDA has been running a project in Derbyshire developing awareness around crime reporting and prevention for Deaf people and also informing police officers how to communicate better. The project is composed of the following elements:

  • Deaf Equality training for front line staff working within the police and victim services.
  • Consultations with Derbyshire Constabulary and local Deaf communities to increase awareness of Deaf views.
  • Setting up a Deaf Advisory Group to support Derbyshire Constabulary with their Deaf Police Action Plan.
  • Delivery of information sessions for Deaf people to increase their awareness about different elements of Crime.
  • A survey of Deaf people’s experiences in dealing with the police with regards to reporting hate crime in particular.

One of the most important pieces of learning to emerge from the project has been that the Deaf community are often confused by the difference between the emergency and non-emergency text message numbers, and can be unclear about which type of crime to report to which number.

The following videos have been developed in consultation and agreement with with Derbyshire Constabulary, North Derbyshire Deaf Forum, Derby City Deaf Forum and the Deaf Advisory Group. Filmed at Derbyshire Constabulary Headquarters with Deaf and police volunteer actors, there are 4 parts with emergency and non-emergency example scenarios for each part:

  • At Home
  • On the Road
  • Out and About
  • Witnessing a Crime

Although designed to support Derbyshire Constabulary, the videos will be shared to the benefit of police forces across the East Midlands Region - Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire.

“This project has been a huge learning curve. Working in partnership with the Deaf community and with so many other organisations to share experiences and the cultural element of our language (BSL) in the delivery of this information has been hugely beneficial to us all.

The project will support and empower the local Deaf community, to understand the difference in emergency and non-emergency situations, and for them to gain in confidence when contacting the police. We look forward to developing and creating more resources with Derbyshire Constabulary and other partners in the future.”

Robin Ash - BDA
Robin Ash

Access & Inclusion Officer
British Deaf Association

VIDEO RESOURCES

Please select any of the headings below to view emergency and non-emergency scenario videos

  • At Home
  • On the Road
  • Out and About
  • Witnessing a Crime