Kingston police reach out to Korean community
7:00am Thursday 17th February 2011 in News By Louise Robertson
Police reach out to Korean community
Police are extending efforts to forge links with Kingston's large Korean community.
New Malden contains the biggest population in Europe of Korean natives - some 20,000.
To accommodate this, Kingston police is providing a native Korean speaker on the front desk of New Malden's CI Tower on Tuesdays between 12.30pm and 3pm.
Callers with limited or no English can be helped with queries by calling 0208 942 6038 or visiting the tower in person, and a translation service is in operation for those with emergencies who dial 999.
There will also be a monthly drop-in service with Korean translators, staffed by the safer neighbourhood teams, the fire brigade and Kingston police domestic violence unit.
The sessions will take place between 2.30pm and 4.30pm on Mondays, in New Malden Methodist Church.
The session dates are March 7, April 4, May 9 and June 6, with later dates lined up.
Superintendent Paul McGregor said: "We have been keen to improve the service offered to our Korean community and to overcome any language barrier that may exist.
"The recruitment of three local Korean volunteers has helped us to offer this new Tuesday service at the police office and run the monthly drop in sessions."
