People with learning disability meet 999 crews in Cornwall

BBC News

a day ago

Adults with learning disabilities have been encouraged to ask emergency services for help when they need it at a special event.The 18th annual Blue Light Day held at the Royal Cornwall Showground on Wednesday saw hundreds of people interact with members of the police, fire service and paramedics.Part of the day involved people being able to become more familiar with the uniforms, jobs and kit used by the emergency services.Diverse Community Sergeant for Cornwall Sgt Flo Linscott said the day was "very special for us, especially for this community who are seldom heard".
Helen Thomas, safeguarding officer for Cornwall's fire service, said: "It can be quite scary if you see any emergency service vehicles and we're all in uniform, with blue lights, big vehicles and lots of us."It can be quite intimidating so it's great for people to be able to come and have a chat and sit in the truck at a lower level when it's nice and calm and relaxed."Student Louis was interested in the firearms shown by Devon and Cornwall Police officers.He said: "It's fun as there's a lot of stuff to see and do here."
Ben was one of the community diversity champions who helped organise the event.He said: "I think the police are one of the most helpful people around in Cornwall because they help you so much with stuff during the Blue Light Day. "I think this is one of the things that most people don't realise - Blue Light is the most important day for day centres to come down because it's one of the things they can all get introduced to."
'Building bridges'
Diverse Community Sergeant for Cornwall Sgt Flo Linscott said sometimes people with learning disabilities do not report crimes or incidents to police.He said: "It's even more important for us to try and make bridges into those communities and their carers, guardians and families to say 'look we're here, we want to listen if you've been discriminated against'."So that's one of the things - building those bridges, building those links into the community and helping them understand that yes we're the police but we want to listen as well, we want to help in some way, which usually we can."Sgt Linscott added: "Like I said, it's all about those relationships, and if we can form a relationship, those people will come to us direct."