SCHOOL CHILDREN GET A TASTE OF LIFE AS A PCSO

A group of

Bournemouth school children are set to experience what it is like to be a

PCSO

(Police Community Support Officer) with Dorset

Police.

Fifteen children aged between 8 and 10 years

old, from St

Michael’s School in West Cliff have been ‘recruited’ as

junior PCSOs after they won a writing competition where they explained

why they

would like to become a PCSO.

Over the next seven weeks, the children will

work alongside

the area’s PCSOs, getting involved in various community activities

including litter picks.

The youngsters will also get to visit at

Dorset Police

station and experience what it is like to work in the custody block and

with

the Force’s dog and traffic sections.

They will also meet partner agencies who the

PCSOs regularly

work with, including the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, ambulance

service

and fire service.

The aim of the scheme is to support the

youngsters’

dreams of becoming a PCSO and promote citizenship among younger members

of

society.

PCSO Adrian Griffiths, of the Bournemouth

Central Safer

Neighbourhood Team, said: “We got the idea from Hampshire Constabulary,

who carried out a similar scheme in Totton last year.

“These youngsters have expressed an interest

in a

career as a PCSO and we want to foster their interest through this

scheme.

“Becoming a PCSO was the best decision I’ve

ever

made.

“I get to work with members of the public to

address

long standing issues and hopefully, improve their quality of life.”

On Wednesday 14 July 2010, the children will

attend a

presentation evening where they will be presented with certificates of

their

attendance.

The scheme is currently a trial but if

successful over the

summer, the intention is to roll it out across Dorset.

What do you think ? Do you think this kind of "Taster" session for children. Is it a good thing and can it really give them a good idea of what the job entails, or do you think it's a waste of time and resources ?