Primary school pupils join fight against crime

Date published: 05 March 2010

Pupils at Broadbottom C of E Primary School have taken part in a Junior Neighbourhood Watch Scheme aimed at making their community safer.

Pupils have been sharing crime prevention advice with parents and guardians such as reminding them to lock doors and windows, set the burglar alarm if there is one and keeping a light on when leaving the house unoccupied. The scheme aims to make young people aware of their personal safety by acquiring practical skills and knowledge to avoid placing themselves in dangerous situations. In addition, they gain an understanding of the work of the police and Home Watch, and become more aware of their communities and what they can do to improve them.

Working with Tameside Home Watch, officers and PCSOs from the South Tameside Neighbourhood Policing Team visited the school on Mottram Road in Broadbottom once a week for five weeks to talk to year five and six pupils.

Activities involved the children being challenged to see how many items they could property mark around the home and being shown how to list their belongings on immobilise.com.

Immobile.com is a free online national database that police can access and compare registered items against property that has been found or recovered from suspected criminals so that they can be returned to their rightful owners.

Children were also asked to design a logo for the Junior Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and on completion of the training, each participant received a certificate and a tee shirt with the winning logo design on it.

PC Neil Kidd said: “The Junior Neighbourhood Watch scheme gives us the opportunity to talk to the children and answer their questions about the police and show them they can approach an officer if they see them on the street.

“We also hope the children share the crime prevention advice at home with their parents and guardians so that they can help stop their home and neighbourhood becoming a target of would-be thieves.

“The scheme is just one of the many ways that Tameside South Neighbourhood Policing Team is working with the local community and striving to deliver the Policing Pledge.”

Head teacher Esther Bland said: “At Broadbottom Primary School we are keen to develop our children as citizens for the future working positively with the police and the community to build strong neighbourhoods.”

Tameside Home Watch applied for funding from the Tameside Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership to pilot the scheme.

Janet Gould, Vice Chair of Tameside Home Watch said: ”Junior Neighbourhood Watch is a relatively new idea that is finding popularity in many areas in the UK. The scheme aims to encourage young people to take an interest in what is happening in their neighbourhoods and to generate an interest and awareness in their personal safety, community and crime and disorder issues. It has been said that ‘crime cannot thrive in a community that cares’; the scheme is to inspire young people to care.

If you have a local policing issue you can contact the Tameside South Policing Team on tel: 0161 856 9484

People can help police by providing information on crime and criminal activity either by calling them directly on 0161 872 5050 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity that will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.