Skip to content

PSNI service will 'increase independence' for deaf community

PSNI The group are standing in front of a building with the PSNI logo on the wall. They are holding signs promoting Sign Language Week.PSNI
Majella McAteer, British Deaf Association NI Manager; service user Emmanuel Ofori; PSNI Chief Superintendent Stephen Murray; Barry Campbell, Customer Success Manager at SignVideo; Colette McMahon, British Deaf Association, and service user Geraldine Davison Gray

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has launched a new sign language video relay service for deaf people.

It will offer both Irish Sign Language (ISL) or British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting at the touch of a button.

From Tuesday users will have 24 hour, seven days a week access to the facility on the SignVideo app or via a call button on the PSNI website.

This will put them through to an interpreter who will then relay the call through to the Contact Management Centre where it will be progressed like all other calls received.

Chief Insp Michelle Adams of the PSNI's Strategic Partnerships and Prevention Branch said: "This service means that people from the deaf community will now be empowered to report anything to us themselves, allowing us to take the most meaningful information we can from them and start investigating or supporting in the most appropriate way.

"We want to reassure the deaf community that they will be treated with the utmost respect if they need to contact the Police Service.

"We also want to allay any concerns about data protection. SignVideo interpreters are NRCPD qualified which takes seven years to achieve. They also have a minimum of three years community practitioning experience.

"All interpreters are bound to confidentiality and will not answer any questions or discuss anything regarding a conversation they have been interpreting with any other person."

'Significant development'

British Deaf Association NI Manager Majella McAteer welcomed the launch of the service.

"We are especially delighted that this launch coincides with our annual Sign Language Week during which we aim to celebrate and raise awareness about British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language," she said.

"This is a significant development and a true step forward in achieving equality for sign language users.

"With the video relay service, deaf individuals can now make non-emergency calls to the Police Service independently, without relying on family members, friends, or others for communication support.

"This increased independence and confidence will be greatly welcomed by the sign language community."