Youngsters
Get a Look at Life in the Force
Teenagers from across West Somerset have been
getting a taste of what is required to work in the police force.
Teenagers from West Somerset Community College spent the last week with
Minehead PC Charlie Fitzpatrick getting a flavour of what a police officer
and Police Community Support Officer's life is like.
Activities included taking part in a police physical, how to use a police
radio, learning about powers of arrest and using a driving simulator.
The children also had sessions with a dog handler, the police helicopter,
under water search team and even got the chance to don police protective
equipment used in public order situations.
And the week ended with the students being presented with certificates
for the work with the initiative also going towards endeavour credits
for their courses at the college.
PC Fitspatrick said: 'The week was a great success and a big insight into
the role of police officers and PCSOs.
'It is important that young people see how we work in order to fully appreciate
what the police are about and this week gave the students a very broad
look at policing in West Somerset.
'We could also have been looking at police officers and PCSOs of the future
as recruitment to the constabulary was also explained.'
And the youngsters even got the chance to put their new found skills to
the test when they posed as police officers in a series of scenarios.
This included asking students what they would do in a missing person search
and also during a serious road traffic collision involving a cyclist.
PC Fitzpatrick added: 'It isn't often we are able to hold work experience
weeks on this scale, but hopefully it is an eye opener for all involved.
'It will also be used as a credit for the students at West Somerset Community
College.'
Pictures:
Youngsters getting a hands on view of the police helicopter, with the
Road Policing Unit and PS Mike Smalley and dealing with a serious road
traffic collision involving a cyclist with PSCO Les Lloyd.
