Police officers from the Ilkeston Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team have taken to social media in anticipation of children coming home explaining a Police presence either outside or within school.
The attendance at unspecified sites is part of an initiative to build bridges between students and the police. Members of the Safer Neighbourhood Team from Ilkeston Police Station are set to be conducting regular informal drop in sessions to enable students to meet them, ask for advice, pass on any confidential concerns and for officers to get to know your children with a view of improving relationships and safeguarding.
A statement said that many young people either hate the police or fear them and don’t feel confident in reporting things or asking for advice so the informal sessions have been implemented as a way to reduce that.
The Safer Neighbourhood team will also be popping in during some PSHE lessons for more targeted sessions and focus groups to help students understand the consequences of certain behaviours and how to protect themselves.
The statement concluded by stating: "Young people form a huge part of our communities and we want them to feel safe and be confident in recognising what behaviour is acceptable and what isn't and what to do or how to report something when they witness something or feel they are a victim of crime."