SURREY Police Service (SPS) has launched a new initiative to better connect and communicate with the diverse residents they serve. SPS’s multilingual officers will now be wearing two nametags – one showing their surname in English and one with their name in the second language they speak.

With approximately 38% of Surrey residents speaking a language other than English, the ability for SPS to provide police service in different languages is one of many important steps it says it’s taking to build a community-focused policing model.

Its 367 officers have language skills for 35 different languages – from Afrikaans to Punjabi to sign language.

“This initiative helps our officers connect with members of their community and allows complainants, victims, and suspects to speak with police, should they not be comfortable communicating in English,” says SPS.

The idea for this diverse nametag initiative came from one of SPS’s police officers.

“As we continue to build SPS, we are regularly looking at innovative ways to provide policing service to Surrey,” says SPS.