Kindergarten cops!

Photo: CHRIS BULL

PCSO Vicky Foden listens to what the children have to say

Primary school pupils have teamed up with police to have a say on how officers make their neighbourhood safer.

Each month, 25 pupils from St Thomas’s CE Primary School, Hodge Clough Junior School, and Our Lady’s School get together with officers from Oldham East Neighbourhood Policing Team.

They tell them about any concerns they have, such as dog fouling, litter and graffiti on the children’s playground, drug use in Sholver, gangs of youths congregating in the Ripponden Road area and BB guns being sold to young children.

The police then work to tackle these issues with the help of local partners, including the Oldham Council and youth services, and feedback to the young people about what’s been done.

The meetings, called mini-KINs, are similar to the Key Individual Networks that already run throughout the neighbourhood.

PCSO Vicky Foden said: “By holding a monthly meeting, we are giving these six to 11-year-olds an opportunity to tell us what crime and anti-social behaviour issues they want us to tackle and take an active part in making a difference in their community.”

“Once we have set the priorities we then put a plan into action and feedback to the children about that we’ve done.”

Adam Laskey, head teacher at St Thomas CE Primary School, said: “I feel this proactive approach will nurture responsible citizens of the future.”