The City Council has unanimously approved a “language access” ordinance, designed to ensure that people who speak little or no English still have equal access to police assistance and other emergency services.

Under the law, the city will develop policies and procedures regarding how the police and fire departments, dispatch centers, emergency medical services, and other public safety personnel should communicate with any “limited English proficient” person, such as a crime victim, proponents said.

The Pioneer Valley Project (PVP), a grassroots advocacy group, has been working with city officials, police and others for the past 18 months in pursing passage of the ordinance, which is the first of its kind in the state, officials said. The effort had support from the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. Read more.

See: The Republican

Also see: Language access ordinance debate