It’s a new tourist-support initiative and it has already taught 12 PSP police officers how to use sign language to communicate with the deaf.
This year’s course in Portuguese sign language took place under the ‘Algarve – Safe Destination’ programme and is expected to be repeated next year.
“Before I learnt this, it was very difficult to communicate with deaf people,” officer Joaquim Lopes told Correio da Manhã newspaper. “I had to write everything down. Now, everything is much easier.”
The course involved police from Faro, Olhão and the airport.
Faro squadron chief Filipe Correia told CM: “Our plan is to take this course to the maximum number of agents possible. We don’t yet have a date for a repeat, but we’re hoping for next year.”
