‘Critical Friends’ For International Day - UK

To mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, the Police Service is launching a bid to recruit members of the public to help improve services to people with disabilities.  The volunteers will be a part of a new independent advisory group, which will give valuable insight into how people with disabilities are affected by policing in London, while providing independent, strategic and specialist advice to improve responses to their needs. The Met has a number of independent advisory groups, which provide valuable advice on a number of topics. Acting as ‘critical friends’ they help form an important link between the police and communities in London. Denise Milani, Head of the Met’s diversity directorate urged Londoners to get involved and said: “This is an excellent opportunity for you to make a real difference to how the MPS understands and responds to Deaf and disabled people’s experience of crime and policing.” Today aims to promote a better understanding of disability issues with the goal of full and effective participation of persons with disabilities in society.