Sgt. David Hartley-Brown and Newcomers Centre Director Mohamed Bagha share a hug and a handshake after the unveiling of a new series of educational videos.
The Saint John Police Force has partnered with the Newcomers Centre to release a new resource.
Newcomers will now have access to a series of educational videos that go over when and how to call 911, what to do when you’re pulled over, and how to deal with a mental health crisis or domestic abuse.
Sergeant David Hartley-Brown says the four topics focus on important issues police deal with in the community.
“We recognize that because there is a lot of cultural differences and there are different responses based on where people may come from originally. So we wanted to get that message out there and we thought through social media, through our websites, this was an opportunity for people to access that information at their leisure, when they need it,” he said.
Thank you to the @CPANB_APCNB, the @saintjohnpolice, Steve Butler, and our very own Doaa Hegazy for their hard work creating and translating a series of Educational Videos for Newcomers on an array of topics in Arabic, Mandarin, French, and English. pic.twitter.com/HWbnTffdi8
— The Saint John Newcomers Centre (@SJNewcomersCntr) December 5, 2019
The videos break down language barriers, and will be available in French, English, Mandarin and Arabic.
Newcomer Kobra Haidari says the videos will act as an orientation of sorts.
“You are new, you are not familiar with the culture or some rules and regulations. It is good start to have this kind of videos or orientation,”
She hopes to see the videos made in other language like Persian, which is what she speaks.
Cst. Don Metcalfe with the Crime Reduction Unit says teaching newcomers things like the rules of the road is helpful for everyone.
He says some newcomers drive without a license without knowing they need one, for example.
“When we pull people over, instantly it becomes a major language barrier.”
He says he’s noticed things like kids standing in the backseat, or parents driving with their children on their laps: both of which are dangerous and illegal. He just wants to teach newcomers how to stay safe on the roads.
Metcalfe says there are plans in the works for other videos in the series, including one on how victim services works.
New educational videos have been unveiled for newcomers. In partnership with SJ @SJNewcomersCntr and Crime Prevention Assoc. of NB, these videos in multiple languages, will assist those learning about SJ and NB.
Together, we are stronger! pic.twitter.com/GH3V4Wc3rQ
— Saint John Police (@saintjohnpolice) December 5, 2019
Mohamed Bagha, director of the Newcomers Centre, says the videos are a way to help newcomers settle in, and feel comfortable around police.
“This is just a tool in the tool box that will help newcomers figure out how they can access information, but also how they can use the information.”
Bagha says in many countries, there is a fear of police: they are either corrupt, or have very little interaction with citizens.
“They’re not here to do harm to us, and this is why I am so very proud of calling Saint John home, where an institution like the Saint John Police Force has made such a difference to newcomers who arrive in this community, including me,” he said.
Bagha says projects like this are important as the city’s population grows.
“In the next ten years, 120,000 people will retire from the workforce. We will be bringing 70,000 newcomers in to the province of New Brunswick. We need to be ready to welcome all these newcomers from all over the world, where norms and cultures are very different from the norms and cultures here,” he said.
The videos will be available online in the coming weeks, and will also be shared to various social media pages across the city.
