School pupils help in the fight against crime

Crime reduction advisor Jackie Bell and PCSO Rachel Williams with a pupil from Sandbrook Park Primary School.

Police have recruited pupils from a Rochdale primary school to join in their fight against crime.

More than 100 pupils from Sandbrook Park Primary School on Hartley Lane in Kirkholt were the first in the town to be accredited as Junior Crime Fighters by crime reduction advisor Jackie Bell and Police Community Support Officer, Rachel Williams.

The two delivered the Junior Crime Fighter Surveys to pupils at the school, an initiative which will now be rolled out across the borough. Pupils take the survey home, assess the security measurements in place and fill in the survey. On completion a parent or guardian signs it.

Crime Reduction Advisor Jackie Bell, said: “This scheme has already been piloted in another area in Greater Manchester and we know from their feedback that it is a great tool to generate interest and awareness in home security from children at an early age.

"By actively making sure their windows and doors are locked young people can vastly reduce the chances of becoming a victim of crime as one in three burglaries are though open or unlocked doors and windows.”

PCSO Williams said: “The packs are great for children because they are designed and printed in bright colours and written in language that is easy to understand.

"Once the surveys have been returned we will start to roll them out to schools across the Division.”