Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) have today (15 October 2015) launched a joint public consultation seeking views on their respective draft Gaelic Language Plans.
The draft plans were unveiled at the Royal National Mòd in Oban, with the support of Bòrd Na Gàidhlig, alongside officers wearing uniforms bearing English and Gaelic forms of Police Scotland and a vehicle with the Gaelic version of the Police Scotland logo.
Gaelic Language Plans are a statutory requirement for all public bodies in Scotland. The Plans detail how the police service and the police authority will contribute to creating a sustainable future for Gaelic in Scotland. The commitments contained in each plan aim to raise the status and profile of Gaelic, and create practical opportunities for learning and use of the language.
Some of the potential developments contained in both Police Scotland and the SPA plans include:
• Dual branding of the Police Scotland/ Poileas Alba logo to feature on police uniforms, signage and police vehicles on a replacement cost neutral basis,
• Enhanced opportunities for the public to communicate with Police Scotland and the SPA in Gaelic,
• Increased number of corporate publications made available in Gaelic,
• The introduction of training opportunities for police officers and police staff to learn Gaelic
• Dedicated Gaelic pages on Police Scotland and the SPA’s website
Police Scotland and the SPA are now inviting members of the public and members of staff to read their draft plans and provide feedback on them. The separate plans are available electronically, from Police Scotland and SPA websites, and upon request, in hard copy.
Chief Superintendent Julian Innes, Local Policing Commander for Highland and Islands Division, and project lead, said: “As a public body Police Scotland has a legal obligation to develop a Gaelic Language Plan and we will do that in consultation with the communities we serve and the organisations who work with us.
“The consultation is open and accessible to anyone and I’d encourage those who would like a chance to contribute to do so by making contact with their views.
“Gaelic-speaking communities exist throughout Scotland, although obviously the majority of those who use Gaelic live across the Highlands and Islands region.”
Ian Ross, SPA Board Member, added:
“As one of Scotland’s national languages, Gaelic has played a central part in Scotland’s culture and heritage. Our first Gaelic Language Plan sets out how the SPA will improve understanding and use of Gaelic within our organisation, which in turn will improve how we engage with Scotland’s communities.”
“I would encourage the public and police officers and police staff to read both the SPA and Police Scotland Gaelic Language Plans and give us their feedback on the commitments we are considering.”
Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, Minister for Learning, Science and Scotland’s Languages, said: “As Minister with responsibility for Gaelic, I am delighted to support the launch of this consultation. The Scottish Government is firmly committed to supporting all our indigenous languages, including Gaelic. It is welcome to see Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority demonstrating such firm commitment to supporting Gaelic and I encourage anyone with an interest to have their say on these important publications.”
Bòrd na Gàidhlig Interim CEO, Joe Moore said: “Gaelic Language Plans have proven to be successful in supporting Gaelic by mainstreaming the language in to the everyday operations of Public Bodies while offering those with Gaelic the opportunities to use the language. We are pleased to see Police Scotland and the SPA launch their draft plans for public consultation and look forward to working with them throughout this process.”
It is anticipated that following the consultation an assessment will be made of the ways in which Gaelic can be most appropriately brought into use by the organisation and the police authority.
Any re-branding work will be on a rolling replacement and maintenance basis in order to reduce any costs associated with the plan.
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BEACHDAN GAN SIREADH AIR DÀ PHLANA GHÀIDHLIG
Tha Poileas Alba agus Ùghdarras Poileas na h-Alba (UPA) air co-chomhairleachadh poblach a thòiseachadh còmhla an-diugh (15 Dàmhair 2015) agus iad a’ sireadh bheachdan air na Planaichean Gàidhlig a th’ aig an dà bhuidhinn.
Chaidh na dreachdan de na Planaichean aca fhoillseachadh aig a’ Mhòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail san Òban, le taic bho Bhòrd na Gàidhlig, agus oifigearan an làthair aig an fhoillseachadh le ainm Poileas Alba sgrìobhte air an èideadh-poilis aca ann an Gàidhlig agus Beurla agus bha carbad ann air an robh dreachd Ghàidhlig de shuaicheantas Poileas Alba.
Faodar iarraidh air gach buidheann poblach ann an Alba Plana Gàidhlig ullachadh mar dhleastanas reachdail. Tha na Planaichean a’ cur an cèill na dòighean sam bi an t-seirbheis poilis agus an t-ùghdarras poilis a’ cuideachadh le bhith dèanamh cinnteach gun cùm a’ Ghàidhlig a’ dol mar chànan beò ann an Alba. Tha na cinn-uidhe san dà phlana ag amas air inbhe is ìomhaigh na Gàidhlig àrdachadh, agus air cothroman pragtaigeach a chruthachadh airson an cànan ionnsachadh agus a chleachdadh.
Am measg nan iomairtean is leasachaidhean a thathar a’ moladh sna Planaichean aig Poileas Alba is an UPA tha:
• Bidh an suaicheantas dà-chànanach, Police Scotland/Poileas Alba, a’ nochdadh air èididhean-poilis, soidhnichean agus carbadan-poilis ùra nuair a tha feadhainn ùra a dhìth agus gun iad a’ cosg dad a bharrachd nan àbhaist,
• Bidh cothroman a bharrachd aig a’ mhòr-shluagh conaltradh a dhèanamh ri Poileas Alba is an UPA ann an Gàidhlig,
• Bidh barrachd sgrìobhaidhean corporra rim faotainn ann an Gàidhlig,
• Bidh cothroman trèanaidh ann do dh’oifigearan poilis agus luchd-obrach a’ phoilis gus Gàidhlig ionnsachadh,
• Bidh duilleagan Gàidhlig air làraich-lìn Poileas Alba agus an UPA.
Tha Poileas Alba agus an UPA a-nis ag iarraidh air buill den phoball agus luchd-obrach sùil a thoirt air na dreachdan de na Planaichean aca agus beachd a thoirt dhaibh mun deidhinn. Gheibhear an dà phlana fa leth ann an cruth eileagtronaigeach bho na làraich-lìn aig Poileas Alba agus an UPA, agus faodar lethbhreac dhiubh iarraidh ann an clò.
Thuirt an t-Àrd-stiùireadair Julian Innes, Ceannard Poilis Ionadail airson Roinn na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, agus an neach-stiùiridh airson a’ phròiseict: “Mar bhuidheann phoblach, tha dleastanas laghail air Poileas Alba Plana Gàidhlig ullachadh agus nì sinn sin ann an co-bhuinn ris na coimhearsnachdan air am bi sinn a’ frithealadh agus ann an com-pàirt ris na buidhnean a tha ag obair còmhla rinn.
“Tha an co-chomhairleachadh fosgailte do dhuine sam bith agus bhrosnaichinn neach sam bith a tha airson pàirt a ghabhail sa cho-chomhairleachadh na beachdan aca a chur thugainn.
“Tha coimhearsnachdan Gàidhlig ann air feadh Alba, ged a tha e follaiseach gu bheil a’ mhòr-chuid de dhaoine a tha cleachdadh Gàidhlig a’ fuireach air a’ Ghàidhealtachd agus sna h-Eileanan.”
Thuirt Iain Ros, Ball de Bhòrd an UPA:
“Mar aon de chànanan nàiseanta na h-Alba, tha Gàidhlig air a bhith na pàirt fìor chudromach de chultar is dualchas na h-Alba. Tha a’ chiad Phlana Gàidhlig againn a’ cur an cèill mar a tha an UPA a’ dol a leudachadh na h-ìre ’s gu bheil a’ Ghàidhlig air a tuigsinn agus air a cleachdadh taobh a-staigh na buidhne, agus mar thoradh air sin bidh conaltradh nas fheàrr eadar sinn fhìn is coimhearsnachdan an h-Alba.
“Bhrosnaichinn buill den phoball agus oifigearan poilis agus luchd-obrach a’ phoilis na Planaichean Gàidhlig aig an UPA agus Poileas Alba a leughadh agus na beachdan aca a thoirt dhuinn air na cinn-uidhe a tha sinn a’ moladh.”
Thuirt an Dr Alasdair Allan BPA, am Ministear airson Ionnsachaidh, Saidheans agus Cànanan na h-Alba: “Mar Mhinistear le uallach airson Gàidhlig, tha mi fìor thoilichte mo thaic a thoirt don cho-chomhairleachadh seo a tha ga fhoillseachadh. Tha Riaghaltas na h-Alba daingeann nar taic do gach cànan dùthchasach a th’ againn, agus tha a’ Ghàidhlig air aonan de na cànanan sin. Tha mi a’ cur fàilte air an taic làidir a tha Poileas Alba agus Ùghdarras Poileas na h-Alba a’ sealltainn don Ghàidhlig agus dh’iarrainn air duine sam bith aig a bheil ùidh sna Planaichean cudromach seo am beachd a thoirt seachad.”
Thuirt Ceannard Eadar-amail Bhòrd na Gàidhlig, Joe Moore: “Tha Planaichean Gàidhlig air soirbheachadh gu mòr ann a bhith toirt taic don Ghàidhlig. Tha iad air a’ Ghàidhlig fhighe a-steach do dh’obair làitheil diofar Bhuidhnean Poblach agus tha iad air cothroman a thoirt do dhaoine le Gàidhlig an cànan a chleachdadh. Tha e na adhbhar toileachais dhuinn gu bheil Poileas Alba agus an UPA a’ foillseachadh nan dreachdan de na Planaichean aca airson co-chomhairleachadh poblach agus tha sinn a’ coimhead air adhart ri bhith ag obair còmhla riutha fhad ’s a tha iad ag obair air na Planaichean aca.”
Às dèidh a’ cho-chomhairleachaidh, thathar an dùil gun tèid beachdachadh air na dòighean as iomchaidhe san gabh Gàidhlig a chleachdadh le Poileas Alba agus leis an ùghdarras poilis.
Thèid ùrachadh sam bith air ìomhaigheachd na dà bhuidhne a dhèanamh nuair a bhios feum air aodach, uidheam no stuthan ùra co-dhiù gus cosgaisean a’ phlana a lùghdachadh
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