Police Scotland looks to add its Gaelic name to uniforms

Consultation is launched over bid to boost force’s bilingual branding

POLICE Scotland is set to add its Gaelic name to all its officers’ uniforms, signs and vehicles.

The national force has already come under fire for putting Poileas Alba on the new helicopter that replaced the aircraft that crashed into The Clutha Bar in Glasgow in November 2013.

But now it has launched a consultation on introducing bilingual branding more widely as part of the decade-long push started by Labour and the Liberal Democrats to give Gaelic more prominence.

The force, under a draft Gaelic Plan unveiled at the Royal National Mòd in Oban, also said it would look to encourage officers and staff to learn Gaelic and publish more material in the language.

Chief Superintendent Julian Innes, Local Policing Commander for Highland and Islands Division, and project lead, said: “As a public body Police Scotland has a legal obligation to develop a Gaelic Language Plan and we will do that in consultation with the communities we serve and the organisations who work with us.

“The consultation is open and accessible to anyone and I’d encourage those who would like a chance to contribute to do so by making contact with their views.

“Gaelic-speaking communities exist throughout Scotland, although obviously the majority of those who use Gaelic live across the Highlands and Islands region.”

Like road and rail signs, moves for Gaelic branding and signage in the police will have no financial cost. As with the helicopter, new branding will only be put on new kit or buildings.

This was also the case when Police Scotland was created, with many uniforms simply saying “police” rather than containing the full name of the force to avoid wasteful spending.

Bilingual signage and branding is considered best practice across Europe as a simple and cost-free way of showing that speakers of minority languages are welcome and have parity of esteem, at least theoretically.

However, in some countries far right groups have reacted with anger when minority languages became associated with symbols of state power, including road signs and, especially, the police and military.

The new plan would also apply to the Scottish Police Authority, the main watchdog for the force.

Ian Ross, SPA board member, said: “As one of Scotland’s national languages, Gaelic has played a central part in Scotland’s culture and heritage.

“Our first Gaelic Language Plan sets out how the SPA will improve understanding and use of Gaelic within our organisation, which in turn will improve how we engage with Scotland’s communities.”

Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages, said: “The Scottish Government is fir mly committed to supporting all our indigenous languages, including Gaelic.It is welcome to see Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority demonstrating such firm commitment to supporting Gaelic.”

‘‘ Police Scotland has a legal obligation to develop a Gaelic Language Plan and we will do that in consultation with the communities we serve