Geelong police achieve national milestone

GEELONG Police Station is the second watch house in Victoria to be awarded a nationally recognised “Communication Access Symbol” as part of a broader initiative to prioritise equal justice.

The accreditation, which took two years to come to fruition, was launched to a sizeable crowd at Geelong Police Station on Wednesday last week.

About 80 uniformed officers underwent extensive training to achieve the station’s latest accolade, with successful participants now wearing a universal pin to signal that they can respectfully converse with people who have a disability.

Speaking at the event, Superintendent Craig Gillard said the project was a collaborative effort between Scope and Victoria Police, and that it had equipped officers with the skills, knowledge and competence to interact with all people who report crime.

“This project was created in response to the Victorian Equal Opportunities Human Rights Commission’s Beyond Doubt Report which examined the experiences of people with disabilities reporting crime.

“The report found that people with communication disabilities faced significant barriers at all points in the criminal justice system. Victoria Police has a critical role in removing barriers and prioritising equal justice to people with disabilities so everybody feels safe.

“I have confidence that through the accreditation of the Communication Access Symbol, Geelong police can ensure that their first contact with someone with a communication disability is one of understanding, confidence and trust.”

Event speakers also acknowledged the work of Communication Access assessor John Fox, who played a significant role in helping Geelong Police Station receive the accreditation from Scope.

Mr Fox, who has a communication disability, said he regularly experiences his profits being stolen from his wallet when selling The Big Issue.

“I won’t let them win. I continue to sell The Big Issue and thanks to Victoria Police I can now do this confidently.”

In November, Box Hill Police Station became the first in Australia to be awarded the Communication Access Symbol.

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