28 April 2009
The Bedwas Neighbourhood Policing Team, together with the Van Communities First Partnership are launching a 'Know Your Bobby' Scheme to encourage children to speak to their local officers.
Gwent Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers from the Bedwas team have each got their own playing card, showing their picture, contact details and tips on how to stay safe.
Children from schools in the Lansbury Park area of Caerphilly – St James Primary School and St Helen's RC School – will be encouraged to approach the officers when they are walking around the area to get a copy of their card.
They will also be given a collectors chart so they can see how many more they have left to collect.
If they collect all 16, then they will be invited to an open day later in the summer, to encourage them to join local activity groups.
Some of the children from St James' visited the Newport Gwent Dragons during Sunday's game (26 April 2009) against Connacht to help celebrate the launch. The Dragons donated free tickets to the children to watch the game.
PC Sian Lloyd said: "This is the first time the scheme has been used in the Caerphilly area. We thought it would be a fun way of interacting with local children as well as an opportunity to offer them safety tips. The messages provide basic advice on issues such as road safety and staying safe online. We hope that the scheme will make children more confident in approaching us and sharing any concerns they may have. Taking some of the young people down to the Newport Gwent Dragons game was a great way to kick-off the scheme."
Wendy Griffin, Chair of the Van Community Partnership, said: "The partnership are proud to support this scheme and have worked hard with the local neighbourhood team over the last four years and this is now showing really positive results."
Mr John Bridges, Head Teacher of St James Primary School said: " This is a novel way of helping to encourage links between the school community and its local police service. We are delighted to be included in the launch of this scheme and wish it every success in its future development."
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