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From left: PCSO Aidan Gillette; PCSO Thomas Bingham-Vick; Deputy NPAA for Gwent Sara Louise Evans; pupil Ross Sparey and teachers Sian Harris, Michelle Fritton and Gary Powell
A new scheme to help police deal with emergencies involving people with additional learning needs (ALN) has been rolled out across Wales – months after it was first created with the help of Trinity Fields School.
The school, which is based in Ystrad Mynach and is for ALN pupils, has worked closely with Gwent Police as part of ‘The Trinity Protocol’.
The scheme will allow family members and carers to register someone with ALN to Gwent Police.
If a registered ALN person contacts the police in an emergency, officers will be able to access information about them, which could help break down communication barriers.
The scheme is being rolled out by the National Autism Team, which is a Welsh Government-funded body which aims to provide support and guidance to people with Autism in Wales.
The Trinity Protocol can also be used if an ALN person is missing, involved in a crime or is the victim of a crime. Officers will have the relevant information to adapt their approach if, for example, they might have difficulties communicating or might react negatively to lights or sirens.
Gary Powell, a teaching assistant at Trinity Fields School who worked on the project, said: “PCSO Thomas Bingham-Vick came to me with the idea of creating the Trinity Protocol after his experience of working at our school.
“Class Teacher Sian Harris and I shared our knowledge and experiences of working at Trinity Fields School. We were able to provide some officers from Gwent Police training and were able to share our experiences of young people who have previously gone missing.”
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Trinity Fields Headteacher Ian Elliott MBE said:, “I am immensely proud and grateful to Gary and Sian who have worked closely with Gwent Police to develop this highly innovative approach which will help those with learning difficulties to be kept safe.
“Pupils are also very proud that this exciting initiative has been developed with them in their school.”
Emma Wicks, whose son attends Trinity Fields, said the Trinity Protocol “has been an assurance to me and my family that if personal information about him is needed by any of the emergency services urgently, it is available to them”.
Councillor Ross Whiting, Cabinet Member for Education at Caerphilly County Borough Council, said: “This initiative could make all the difference to children and adults with additional learning needs, should they ever find themselves in a position where they need to dial 999.”
To sign up for the Trinity Protocol, fill out the form and email it to [email protected]
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