AFGHAN refugees received a warm welcome from Swindon's police and council who explained British laws and the support available to the new arrivals.

Men, women and children who had to flee their homes and travel thousands of miles to reach our shores listened to a helpful talk which eased them into the new culture and community they had joined.

One of the Afghan men from the audience offered to translate the talk to the attentive crowd because most were not fluent in English. Afterwards, each child received a 'kindness sack' full of arts and crafts materials donated by the Wiltshire Racial Equality Council and Wiltshire Scrapstore.

Sergeant Tom Ellerby from Wiltshire Police’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team explained step-by-step how the British police works and talked about the many varied job opportunities available in the force.

Beth Sparks from CPS Wessex then gave an explanation about the workings of the British judicial system and the support on offer.

Sgt Ellerby said: “I can only imagine the trauma some of these people have left behind. If you dropped me into a new country and culture miles from home, I would be wanting this kind of information.

"So I think it is really important that we joined the council’s Welcome Team with the CPS to speak to them today.

“We wanted to show how police work, where they are based, how to report a crime and what our role is, and the CPS are talking about what constitutes a hate crime. Hopefully, taking steps like this will not only smooth their transition to life in Britain but also reduce fear or distrust in authority that they may have had.”

Beth Sparks said: “I am delighted to have joined Wiltshire Police to welcome and engage with refugees from Afghanistan, and to help them understand the criminal justice system.

“We are dedicated to helping communities understand the role of the police and the CPS. It is particularly important to us that we help people understand that it is safe to report crime to the police, that there is support available to victims and witnesses, and that the CPS is committed to prosecuting perpetrators wherever our legal test is met.”

Coun Abdul Amin from Wiltshire Police’s Diverse Communities Independent Advisory Group attended the talk and said afterwards: “This is a fantastic idea to help these vulnerable people who are not familiar with our legal system.

“Our police are here to help them and are not their enemy. An event like this helps promote that and build good relations between the police, CPS, our local authorities and the Afghan communities here.

"This is an important part of the work going on in Swindon and the wider county to help provide accommodation and education to those displaced from the instability in Afghanistan.”