Port of Tilbury-Police Constable

[Techie1 + 2,024]

Honey, I shrunk the police.

164 primary school children aged between nine and ten are enrolled on the scheme.

Northumbria Police has taken on more young recruits as its successful Mini Police scheme is extended.

Earlier this year the force’s Mini Police initiative was launched with seven primary schools across the county signing up.

Schoolchildren were selected for the scheme - where they work with officers and volunteer police cadets to learn about a host of topics to help keep them and their friends safe.

Mini Police, recognisable by their uniform, also carry out work in the community and since the scheme began have attended some of the region’s biggest events such as the Sunderland International Airshow.

There they played a vital role and helped hand out wristbands to children their own age and younger, the wristbands included the contact details of the child’s parents or guardian so if got separated they could quickly be reunited with them.

Due to the success of the scheme it has been extended with eight more schools now signing up and an extra 88 nine and ten year olds becoming Mini Police - meaning there are now 164 primary school children enrolled on the scheme.

Superintendent Sarah Pitt was instrumental in launching Northumbria Police’s Mini Police.

She said: “Since we launched the scheme in April we’ve had a lot of interest in our Mini Police with people getting in contact to see how their children or school could get involved. It’s been a great success so far and we’re really pleased we’ve been able to extend it and welcome more children into the police family.”

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Dame Vera Baird QC, said: “This is a brilliant opportunity for children to engage with their local communities and learn more about how our officers tackle crime and help people who need it. It’s great that we have more youngsters signing up – I hope their involvement inspires them and they have lots of fun as new Mini Police recruits.”

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[ParochialYokal 1,119]

I think it's a brilliant idea.

The police generally work with secondary schools and run sessions about specific things, like drugs and alcohol (in my day). But, to some extent, it might be too late for some who could have already formed negative views about the police by then. This scheme is really positive and will have shape the views of the police for lots of children before they get brainwashed by the anti-police sentiment that is being imported here from the US.