Birmingham officers say “Nin hao” to Chinese community

OFFICERS across Birmingham city centre will be celebrating the Chinese New Year by learning Mandarin, thanks to funding from a local partner agency.

Officers regularly visit the Chinese Community Centre in Birmingham

Working in partnership with the Southside BID and the Birmingham Chinese community centre, police officers, PCSOs and local street wardens are set to embark on a study programme to learn the Chinese language.

The course will give staff the opportunity to listen, speak, read and write in Mandarin and will also give officers an insight into Chinese cultures and traditions.

Officers hope that this will further improve relationships with the substantial local Chinese community, and will encourage a better understanding of how members of the community can report both crime and anti-social behaviour.

In addition to the language course, funding has been obtained to enable the Southside neighbourhood policing team to print community safety literature and signage in Chinese. This will include a comprehensive guide into both police and local services available across the city.

Funding for the initiative has been donated by the Southside Business Improvement District.

PC Mark Jones, from the Southside neighbourhood policing team, said: “We have a thriving Chinese community in Southside and are keen to further build positive relationships with people from all backgrounds.

“By gaining a basic understanding of the language, we can hopefully encourage an increase in reporting of crime and ensure that our Chinese community are aware of the various services on offer here in Birmingham.”