Community Life

Special telephones will allow victims and police to have  3-way conversations with an interpreter in a variety of languages.

The phones are to be placed in police stations across the borough, with interpreters available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Officers will also be able to access the interpreter service through police radios or their mobile phones.

Detective Inspector David Hanley from the Police Community Safety Team said the move “demonstrates the commitment of Barking and Dagenham Police to encourage witnesses and victims from minority groups to come forward”

He went on to say “it is recognised that …racial… crimes and incidents are probably grossly under-reported in the Borough and it is important that police capture as many of these incidents as possible.

It comes as new figures from the Crown Prosecution Service show a 28 % rise since last year.

DI Hanley added “I am confident that [the scheme]… will be highly successful. The willingness of the public to come forward is essential and will play a significant role in the future effectiveness of police for us to combat these pernicious crimes”