Mini police on patrol

SAY hello, hello, hello to South Yorkshire Police’s latest recruits! The force has officially launched the new Mini Police programme in 12 primary schools across Sheffield and Doncaster, including a number of schools in north Sheffield.

Mini Police is an innovative and exciting scheme for Year 5 pupils who have been nominated by their schools to take part in a series of sessions delivered by PCSOs. Topics include the dangers of speeding, anti-social behaviour and online safety.

Community Safety Project Officer Claire France said: “Getting children to take safety seriously isn’t the easiest task; it’s often the last thing on their mind, but this scheme makes it exciting and engaging.

“The idea is that our officers deliver important messages to a small group of children who then go back to their lessons, the playground or the lunch hall and tell their friends about them. It’s empowering for them and it’s educational for the rest of the school.

"Mini police are also encouraged to come up with events that the whole school and the outside community can get involved in. They think of the ideas and then we will help them make it happen.

“For example, they might want to organise a litter pick, a gala, or set up a speed-watch scheme outside school.”

As part of the programme, the children are provided with a mini police uniform and also build up rewards for the school, which can mean visits from specialist teams such as the Mounted Unit.

The Mini Police scheme is coordinated by the South Yorkshire Police Community Safety Department, based at the Lifewise Centre in Rotherham. It has been funded by the Volunteer Police Cadets.

Inputs will be delivered by PC- SOs, supported by Community Safety Project Officers.

Superintendent Neil Thomas, force lead for Citizens in Policing, added: “We have a strong Citizens in Policing agenda that encompasses a wide range of age groups and communities and mini police is great example of how we are looking to engage with the youngest members of our community.”

Similar Mini Police schemes have already set up in other parts of the country, including Lincolnshire and Durham.

The 12 schools already signed up to the programme in South Yorkshire include Ecclesfield Primary School, Greengate Primary School and St Mary's Primary School. The programme with run for two years.