Australian Police Hope to Build Trust with Indigenous Communities with Translating App 

SYDNEY - Law enforcement authorities in Western Australian have said a new mobile interpreting app will help improve relations with Indigenous communities, especially in areas where English is not commonly spoken. 

The technology translates a few common police directions into local languages and has been devised with an Aboriginal interpreting service.   The so-called Yarning app allows Western Australian police officers to select from eight Aboriginal languages and play key messages relating to rights in custody and the COVID-19 pandemic. Indigenous leaders believe it will save lives by preventing the wrongful imprisonment of people who don’t understand the legal process.  The technology will be available in communities where English is often the third or fourth most commonly used language.