Positive Policing
Meeting police staff in a classroom context can help pupils develop a long-term positive relationships with the police and build trust in a managed environment.
Positive encounters with the police can help to challenge misconceptions or alter views that young people may have about the police so this week we invited Police Community Support Officer Rob Morton to school who chatted with Form 6 about his work to reduce crime, fear and antisocial behaviour in the community. There were lots of questions from the children covering everything from helping criminals reform, to knife and gun culture in the USA.
These experiences help children feel more confident to ask the police for help when they need it, to report a crime if they witness one and to disclose safeguarding concerns. They can also equip them with an understanding of what may happen when they speak to police staff about a crime.