Mini Police Scheme
Children from Plymouth’s Courtland’s Primary School take part in Mini Police Scheme.
A new scheme, which is being trialled for the first time in Plymouth, sees children from local primary schools getting a feel for what it’s like to be a police officer.
The Mini Police Programme is for children aged between 8 to 10 years and aims to increase trust, confidence and provide safety messages and preventative education that will stay with them for life.
The children take part in a seven-week intensive programme that varies from classroom-based learning to practical help in their community. PC Deborah Hart a Youth Intervention Officer based in Plymouth knows how important it is to work with children from a young age. She said: “This programme gives children an opportunity to understand what’s involved in modern policing and to work with officers on a project that gives something back to their community. Each lesson is designed to increase their confidence and understanding of how to keep themselves safe.
“There are instances where unfortunately children meet the police in a difficult situation that might involve their family members. The aim of the mini police programme is to show those children that being involved with the police is not always a negative experience and that they can work with us to improve education and issues that are impacting on their community.”
Those children wanting to take part in the scheme apply by filling out an application form followed by a short interview. If they are successful, they are enrolled in the scheme and provided their own cap and tabard. PC Hart, will encourage the children to think about working in the community. She said: “The seven-week programme sees the children working on a community project as well as increasing their knowledge in how to keep safe and demonstrate positive behaviours.”
Courtlands Primary School is the first school to take part. Safeguarding Lead Mrs Nancy Hardwick saw the value this scheme would bring to the children who attend her school. She said: “Courtlands is a Special School for children with moderate learning difficulties, social, emotional and mental health difficulties and other complex needs. This scheme was a perfect fit for us as some of the children here might have faced adverse experiences or might have encountered the police in difficult family moments. The police designed a programme with our children in mind and it has been so good to watch those children selected to take part thrive and build their confidence with the officers involved. The scheme dovetails perfectly into our bespoke Wellbeing Curriculum and our recent achievement of a national award recognizing our commitment to the mental, emotional and physical wellness of our staff and pupils.”
The entire school celebrated the end of the first programme with the children who took part receiving certificates, presented by Superintendent Roy Linden, in front of invited parents. The whole school got to meet the force mascots and see displays by the police dogs and the drone team.
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