Police sticking with album scheme

Children who complete albums can have their fingerprints taken

Police in Devon say a scheme handing out stickers and albums to help youngsters identify local officers has improved local links with the force.

The Cop Card scheme was launched in Brixham by Devon and Cornwall Police last October.

More than 130 youngsters aged between seven and 11 took part in the scheme using a blank 30-space album.

The stickers focus on different aspects of the force such as its helicopter, dog and traffic sections.

Force surveys have shown that more youngsters spoke to local police during the scheme, a greater number now know the names of those working in the neighbourhood team, and more children are aware of where the local inquiry office is based.

Brixham-based Sgt David Casley said: "By gaining the trust and confidence of local youngsters, we hope they will highlight any issues where we can help and will be more willing to approach us with information about incidents."

HQ tour

When albums were completed, the children had their fingerprints taken at Brixham police station.

Their details were also registered to give them a chance to win a VIP trip to the force's headquarters in Exeter.

Several youngsters will tour Force HQ, at Middlemoor later this month.

They include Joshua Boon, aged eight, who attends Brixham C of E Primary School and Daniel Gayden, eight, a pupil at Eden Park Primary School.

Also touring the HQ on 15 April will be prize-winning youngsters involved in a similar initiative in the Newton Abbot area.

They are Kelsie Edwards, 10, from Ipplepen School, along with Tasha Wastell-Scagell, 10, and Benjamin Flower, nine, who both attend Canada Hill School.