Police officers to learn Gaelic in drive to raise profile of language
● Vehicles to be rebranded ● Plan slated as ‘a waste of time’
Police officers will be encouraged to learn Gaelic and the service’s vehicles rebranded as part of an initiative to help promote the language.
From 2017, the Police Scotland corporate logo will appear in English and Gaelic, and opportunities are being explored for the public to communicate with the force using the language.
Police Scotland has said the language plans are “cost neutral” but they have been criticised as a “distraction” for a force facing increasing budgetary pressures.
Vehicles in Police Scotland’s N Division (Highlands and Islands), including the force helicopter, already carry “Poileas Alba” branding.
Assistant Chief Constable Andrew Cowie said: “The importance of upholding traditional and native languages cannot be underestimated and as a police service we recognise Gaelic as an important aspect of Scotland’s heritage. It also has a significant role to play in the overall wellbeing of communities and the country as a whole.
“I look forward with great enthusiasm to taking on the recommendations contained in the plan and developing the service’s involvement with Gaelic speakers and communities
0 Vehicles in the Highlands and Islands already carry the Poileas Alba logo where Gaelic is the dominant tongue.”
It is a statutory requirement for all Scottish public bodies to have a Gaelic language plan.
But Douglas Ross MSP, justice spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives, said the force had bigger problems to worry about.
He said: “Police Scotland are facing a number of challenges at the moment, none of which will be solved by having a Gaelic action plan. Gaelic is an important part of the fabric in some communities but in many parts of Scotland people have little or no connection with it. Where the language is regularly spoken, the police already use Gaelic.
“This national plan will only serve as a distraction at a time when we should be concentrating on improving policing in Scotland. Rather than waste time and effort on this, they should be attempting to tackle the staffing and funding issues currently facing the force.”