Policesol Training Programme

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Policesol Training Programme

In the past decade, the United Kingdom has seen a significant increase in the arrival of individuals seeking political asylum in the country. As a result, the Police like other statutory partners have had to respond and deal with an increase in incidents and a variety of additional concerns, complicated by both language and cultural barriers.

It became apparent that individuals arriving to the UK had little knowledge of their rights and responsibilities, particularly with regard to sensitive quality of life issues such as; when experiencing racial abuse, when suffering forms of domestic violence responsibilities in respect of children and their safety (i.e. leaving young children in the care of slightly older siblings) and having knowledge of the legal implications of using motor vehicles. These areas were further complicated because of a reluctance to report such incidents to raise their individual profile – preferring to tolerate or ignore and because many (due to possible previous concerns in their former countries) had in general, an inherent fear and mistrust of the police.

Through a problem solving partnership approach, the Policesol, Basic Skills Training Programme was designed to address concerns by effectively providing asylum seekers and refugees with information in a constructive, learning environment. The project is an educational training program devised in partnership with ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages – a division of Cardiff City Council Centre for life long Learning) to provide English language support to individuals unable to speak English.

The specific course content, serves to introduce students to the role of the Police in the United Kingdom and provide information on all ‘identified’ areas, causing concern (from a policing perspective) aimed at reducing fears improving integration and community cohesion.

The programme introduces actual police officers into the learning environment who engage and assist the ESOL teachers with the learning areas. This effectively serves to break down barriers in an extremely positive and constructive manner.

Location:

Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom

Policy/practice area:

Legal and political integration

Keywords:

Anti-discrimination, Citizenship and regularization, Community building, Crisis and conflicts management, Culture and diversity, Education, Family and marriage, Gender, Governance, Human rights and law, Prevention of crisis , Refugees and asylum seekers, Training, Women, Youth,

Integration Practitioner:

Academic institution

Name of Organization:

ESOL Services, Cardiff County Council & South Wales Police

Website:

Policesol training Course material

Other stakeholders involved in this practice:

ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages – a division of Cardiff City Council Centre for life long Learning)

Cardiff Basic Command Unit, South Wales Police