In Warrington, a small group of police officers was selected from grade 5. Police selected this group of ‘mini police officers’ from across the Warrington and carefully based on some criteria.
From three primary schools in Warrington, 30 children were chosen to represent their schools. The schools included Sacred Heart, St Barnabas and Evelynn Street. This selection was made after a thorough interview process similar to the one faced by taller candidates.
Warrington Police Station swore in its new officers today.
The small officers will be working as ambassadors with their schools, the community and the police officers to help improve the town.
Safer Streets is part of Project Safer Streets, through which Cheshire police received £550,000 as an award for improving community safety.
The police visited every house in Bewsey, Dallam and Whitecross, supplying them with home protection devices such as window locks and door alarms.
Currently, they are recruiting nine- and ten-year-olds to help improve the town.
Inspector Ruth Atherton is spearheading this initiative: “It is our first mini police in Warrington, and the schools have been highly enthusiastic about it.
“The moment they have little uniforms on, they instantly become self-confident young people.
“It’s just giving them the power to do what they believe in and stand up for it, and we’re always there to support them do so.”
The work of these young people, a subway system famous for anti-social behaviour, crime, and drugs, transformed it into a clear path for locals.
According to Ruth, this work has made it so that “people no longer dread the process, as they can now take control of it.” Each of the mini cops is ambitious to get engaged in serving their community in innumerable ways.
Nine-year-old Amelia Livesey, from St Barnabas CE Primary School, looks forward to taking on the role. She added more: “I am interested in becoming part of the mini police so I can assist people at school and outside of school, helping them to stay safe.
“Keeping people safe on the roads and ensuring that criminals do not carry knives”. Despite that, if I recognise them, I’ll sound a whistle or call a teacher or someone older to handle it.”
The 10-year-old Zak Clayton, from St Barnabas, is also interested in helping others. According to him: “When I grow up, it would be a great job for me to become a police officer.”
In an interview with Warrington-Live, Zak explained what he wanted to do to serve the community: “We should have bins throughout the community, which will make littering less of an issue, along with trying to block bullying.
Nine-year-old Jasmine Steptoe, also from St Barnabas, is looking forward to “cleaning up” nearby her school with a litter pick.
As Inspector Ruth points out, the initiative has met with a great deal of success. According to her: “It has been a privilege to work with educational institutions. It’s imperative because their role is positive, and they have eyes and ears for the community. “It gives an opportunity to the young ones to take on that responsibility, to gain confidence, and possibly become police officers in the future.”
