More children join the Mini Police

Northumbria Police has taken on more of its youngest ever recruits as its successful Mini Police scheme is extended.

Earlier this year Northumbria Police’s Mini Police was launched with seven primary schools across the force area signing up to the scheme.

School children were selected from the participating schools to become Mini Police where they work with their local police 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 - at the airshow 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 that if they did become separated they could quickly be reunited with them.

Now, 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. “

The schools now involved in the scheme are:-

In Northumberland: Newborough School, Hexham Grange Primary School, Blyth Meadowdale Academy, Bedlington  Chantry Middle, Morpeth

In North Tyneside: St Columba’s RC Primary School, Wallsend Riverside Primary School, North Shields

In Newcastle: Westgate Hill Primary School, Newcastle St Bedes Primary School, Newcastle Thomas Walling Academy, Newcastle

In Gateshead: Falla Park Primary School, Felling Eslington School, Gateshead

 In South Tyneside: Laygate Community Primary, South Shields St Mary’s Primary School, Jarrow

In Sunderland: Academy 360, Sunderland  Easington Lane Primary School, Houghton Southwick Community Primary, Southwick

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