Friday 18 March 2011

“…A Growth In New Communities’…”

Hiring intepreters and translating official documents will cost Essex Police more than half a million pounds this financial year.
No it won’t. It’ll cost us, the taxpayers.

And why?
The expenditure has been backed by immigrants to Southend, who say it is essential they can communicate with police.
Then learn some English! You don’t see any ex-pats whinging that the French, Spanish or Italian authorities don’t provide interpreters, do you?

And if you do, they should similarly be told to shut up and learn the language of the country they are living and working in.
Jerzi Kucelski, 21, of York Road, Southchurch, moved to the town from Krakow, in south Poland, eighteen months ago.

He said: “It’s very important to have that kind of thing. Some of us, the younger ones usually, have learnt a bit of English anyway.

“But for older people it can be a problem.

“We try, but we can’t all speak English really well straightaway.

“If we can’t talk to the police, then we can’t fit in to society.”
Then maybe that’s something you should think about before you come here?
Officers say the cost of translation is money well spent, as intepreters are used to talk to witnesses and victims as well as suspects.
*sigh*
A police spokeswoman said: “Like other areas, Essex has experienced a growth in new communities.”
New communities who don’t seem to be doing anything to fit in with the wider ‘community’.

11 comments:

Poles apart said...

A relative of mine teaches at a college where two east-European teenagers were thrown out for fighting in the corridor. Apparently the fight was over Facebook insults -- in their own language of course, as they don't really speak good enough English to insult each other in the language of the country they or their parents chose to live in.

They get financial help to be there and cause problems for the teaching staff as well as security but as we all benefit from all this vibrant diversity and multi-culti how can we complain?

Gordo said...

I would translate a big sign out of English and into their languages and put it up everywhere. It would say "F**k Off".

In fact no I wouldn't I would simply implement repatriation in a planned, humane but incontestable manner.

Ranter said...

You can see where the police could save some money BUT aren't going to be allowed to. I'm with Gordo's idea! I can say that now, once I would have removed for re-education with a diversity co-ordinator/political officer

MTG said...

"Then maybe that’s something you should think about before you come here?"

D'ohski!

KenS said...

If we can’t talk to the police, then we can’t fit in to society.

Just how often do normal law abiding members of society talk to the police? I don't think I have talked to the police in five years, in the UK or in the country I work in.

Anonymous said...

I suggest every immigrant is given a free *chosen language/english dictionary and if they lose they have to pay for a replacement. End of.

If deemed absolutely essential to their very survival in this country then it should become their most treasured possession.

Captain Haddock said...

This sounds like yet another consignment of geriatric shoe-makers to me ..

My next door neighbours are Polish .. He's an Engineer, She's a Vet .. they both speak excellent English ..

They still maintain contact with their "Home" country via the local Polish Club .. but have made every effort to integrate .. and have succeeded ..

Apart from the fact that neither of them know how to park properly (which is more irritant than issue) .. they're two of the nicest people one could wish to meet ..

If they can do it .. so can the rest ..

microdave said...

"Apart from the fact that neither of them know how to park properly"

Perhaps they should move to Sarfend, where they should fit in perfectly!

See Julia's earlier post regarding roadside parking bays:
http://thylacosmilus.blogspot.com/2011/03/i-guess-its-not-h-issue-after-all-then.html

blueknight said...

My next door neighbours are Polish .. He's an Engineer, She's a Vet .. they both speak excellent English ..

Eastern Europe is a big place and my guess is that the Polish are not the ones causing the problems...

JuliaM said...

"They get financial help to be there and cause problems for the teaching staff as well as security ..""

*sigh*

"I can say that now, once I would have removed for re-education with a diversity co-ordinator/political officer"

Give it time...

"D'ohski!"

:D

"Just how often do normal law abiding members of society talk to the police? I don't think I have talked to the police in five years, in the UK or in the country I work in."

Ditto! It seems only certain types of communities are expected to be in constant contact with the police...

JuliaM said...

"If they can do it .. so can the rest .."

Exactly!

"Eastern Europe is a big place and my guess is that the Polish are not the ones causing the problems..."

Mine too.