A new policy to ensure consistent communication between San Francisco police officers and those who speak little English has been approved by the San Francisco Police Commission.

According to the “Language Access Services for Limited English Proficient Persons” policy, San Francisco Police Department members will have access to a language card to let the public identify which language they speak.

The new policy also provides free language assistance to the public, officials said.

Police officers are prohibited from using family members, neighbors, friends, volunteers, bystanders or children for translation, except in dire circumstances, according to the policy.

Qualified bilingual Police Department members, civilian interpreters and telephone interpreters through the Department of Emergency Management may be used by officers, according to the policy.

— Bay City News