Equality and Diversity - Disability

Around 20% of the population is said to have a disability. We recognise that it is often the social barriers rather than a person's medical condition or impairment that disables them. Some of these barriers are invisible and not easily recognised.

We want to ensure that people with disabilities have the same chance to access our services and to work for us as those who have no disabilities.

That is why we are keen to involve our community and staff members with different types of disabilities, their carers, support organisations and those with relevant expertise or interest in the subject, to ensure that we get it right. We will continue to support this approach by further developing our staff and community involvement methods.

Achieving Equal Access is one of our key Equality Outcome Objectives. In order to achieve equality of outcomes for disabled people we recognise that first we must ensure equal access to our information, services and employment related opportunities. We will maintain our positive pro-active approach, and continue to consider the needs of disabled people in all areas of our work; this will include making necessary adjustments and arrangements to remove any organisational barriers that hinder them, in line with the social model of disability.

Some positive progress we are proud to share...

Tayside Police Non-emergency SMS Text Messaging Service

The non-emergency SMS text messaging service is the direct outcome of disabled people being involved in our decision-making processes and has been recognised as a good practice example by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in its publication ‘Capturing the Gains of the Public Sector Duties’ (March 2009).

This service is particularly intended to improve access for people who cannot use the more traditional methods used by hearing people to make contact with our Force Communication Centre for any non-emergency complaints or issues. Those wishing to use this service must register their mobile phone first. They will then be given the number to text as and when needed.

The registration form (download via the link in the "Download Files" section of this page) needs to be fully completed, signed and returned to us marked for the attention of FCC Team Leader. Or, if you would like someone to help you with completing the registration form, please contact our partner agencies, Deaf Links, Dundee Deaf Hub, 23 Brown Street, Dundee, Tel: 07711462385 (text & voice), email: alana@deaflinks.org.uk or Deaf Action (Tayside), 36 Roseangle, Dundee, DD1 4LY, Tel: 01382 221124/225627, Fax: 01382 200025, Texphone: 01382 227052

A national 999 Emergency SMS Text Messaging service has also been developed. For more information and how to register to use this other service please contact Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID).

Textphone users

Textphone users can call our non-emergency number 0300 111 2222 or any direct dial phone numbers (where known) by adding 18001 in front to communicate with our hearing staff via Type Talk/Text Relay service.

Appropriate Adult Tayside Service

This is a partnership between Tayside Police, NHS Tayside, Angus Council, Dundee City Council and Perth and Kinross Council, which seeks to ensure that people who have a mental disorder and are being interviewed by the Police have an Appropriate Adult to facilitate communication between the person being interviewed and the police. The Service has a steering group to overview the strategic matters and a management group which deals with the daily service delivery. Appropriate Adults Tayside publishes an Annual Report which can be downloaded from the Tayside Police website or requested in other forms.

Sign Language Interpreters

Sign Language Interpreters and other communication support options, such as note takers, are available for those who may require them.

Disability Tip Cards

These 'Tip Cards' (or advice cards) were produced in 2008 in partnership with Dundee City Council, NHS Tayside and Tayside Fire and Rescue. They have been distributed to every police station, department and public enquiry office and are intended for use by front of house reception and customer care staff delivering services to customers who may be affected by disability or communications barriers. They are also a valuable point of reference for staff to assist interaction and positive relations with colleagues who may have a disability.

They are not meant to be a comprehensive source of information on all disabilities but they may help with some quick pointers to raise awareness and help meet individual needs. At the back of the set there is some useful contacts information that can be used for more advice.

Induction Loops

To assist communication with those who are hard of hearing and wear a hearing aid, an induction loop facility is provided in all Tayside Police Headquarters and stations.