成人快手

Police Sergeant Bleddyn Jones, a member of the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Cardiff, has been putting a new skill to the test to boost engagement in the community.听

Bleddyn has recently completed a Level 1 qualification in British Sign Language with training provider ALS. 听He is now finding new ways to connect with people who might otherwise struggle to be heard.听听

鈥淓ngaging with our communities and being able to speak to people is probably the most important part of policing,鈥� he explained.听听

Bleddyn manages a team of police officers and community support officers, working closely with residents, schools, businesses, and community groups to address local issues. His role is all about visibility and approachability, qualities that are often challenged when communication barriers are in place.听

鈥淔or years, BSL has been something on my to-do list,鈥� Bleddyn said. 鈥淚 remember my sister learning BSL when I was a child and found it interesting. It鈥檚 always been an interest of mine, but juggling a course alongside work and home life made it difficult.鈥澨�

That changed when the opportunity arose to complete a BSL qualification as professional development through his work. 鈥淚 jumped at it,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n recent years, hearing loss and deafness has affected members of my family, so the desire to learn BSL became more important to me.鈥澨�

But Bleddyn鈥檚 motivation to learn wasn鈥檛 just personal, he saw the professional benefits too. 鈥淭here have been occasions where I鈥檝e been unable to engage with or speak to somebody because of a barrier to communication,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 frustrating for the individual who might want help, and frustrating for someone like me who wants to make that process as easy as possible.鈥澨�

His awareness of Cardiff鈥檚 deaf community also played a big role in his decision. 鈥淭here is a deaf club in my area, and it would be great for us to be able to engage with them, discuss their concerns, and give the deaf community the same access to policing as the rest of the ward.鈥澨�

Talking about the learner journey, Bleddyn said: 鈥淚 really enjoyed it. I could see my own progress week-on-week. Our trainers, Sarah and Simon, were fantastic, always there supporting us. Being taught in silence was strange at first, but it helped me concentrate. I think it actually helped me learn better.听

鈥淵ou do make friends with the people you sign with every week. I actually went on my first cruise in February, and talking about travel every week with another learner definitely influenced my decision to go.鈥澨�

Though the sessions were intense, or 鈥榓 bit tiring鈥� as Bleddyn puts it, progress was quick. 鈥淵ou use your hands, arms and facial expressions in a way you haven鈥檛 before. But it was such an enjoyable experience.鈥澨�

Now that Bleddyn has completed his Level 1 course, he is bringing his skills to work. 鈥淭here鈥檝e been a couple of examples where we鈥檝e knocked on doors and spoken with people through sign,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 so important for our role, and it must be really refreshing for our local deaf community to feel that they can engage with us through BSL.鈥澨�

Beyond direct communication, Bleddyn says BSL has also changed the way he sees accessibility.听听

He explained: 鈥淚t鈥檚 opened my eyes to how isolating it can be for someone [who is deaf] in a world that communicates through spoken word. The deaf or hard of hearing can feel ignored and not included.鈥澨�

He also realised how expressive and rich the language is. 鈥淚t鈥檚 quite descriptive in the way it explains things,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd as a police officer that鈥檚 really helpful when taking statements. Bringing gestures and hand shapes into statement-taking improves the quality of evidence and gives it more richness and colour.鈥澨�

Following his qualification, Bleddyn continues to practice the language and hopes to work more closely with local deaf groups. He also sees potential in his colleagues. 鈥淭hree of us have learned BSL so far, and I鈥檓 sure more will follow. A few of the team have already shown interest.鈥澨�

Talking about the importance of learning the skill, Bleddyn said: 鈥淛ust being able to greet someone, it鈥檚 such a simple thing, but it shows respect and willingness to engage.听

鈥淟ots of people say they鈥檇 love to learn another language and I just have. It鈥檚 a great way to challenge yourself, stimulate your mind, and make a real difference in the way you serve your community.鈥澨�

If you would like to learn more about BSL you can find details of 听