Traffic officers to carry 'trauma teddies'

'Trauma teddies’ will be given to children at the scene of road traffic collisions

Traffic officers in Greater Manchester will start carrying teddies in their cars to give to young children they meet while responding to road traffic collisions.

The ‘trauma teddies’ will be given to children at the scene of road traffic collisions to help keep them calm while medical attention is given, as a comfort after the incident or as a distraction while police deal with paperwork.

Chief Inspector Tariq Butt, who heads up GMP’s Road’s Policing Unit, said: “Road traffic collisions can be a traumatic experience for anyone, especially young children.

"We hope that the trauma teddies will start a connection between the police and the child, and offer them comfort during a distressing time. “

100 ‘trauma teddies’ have been donated to GMP by local Manchester company, S Ryder Ltd.

The traffic team will start using them in mid-April.