Officers visit local school as part of its life skills week

Officers have made a special visit to pupils at Oakhill Primary School in Stoke-on-Trent as part of a week focussed on helping the youngsters learn life skills.

More than 100 eager children were greeted by Chief Constable Chris Noble, during a full-school assembly this morning (Thursday 7 July), accompanied by PSCO Stephen Sherratt, several officers from the local policing team (LPT), two wagging tails in PD Cooper and PD Artic, handler PC Tim Moss and dog support Sergeant Mat Butterworth.

The visit, which was organised by local Longton PCSO Sherratt, saw Chief Constable Noble giving pupils a flavour of the type of skills required to police the streets each and every day across Staffordshire.

The floor was open for pupils to ask the team a range of different policing and community questions, with the vast majority requesting a closer look at the force’s specially-trained dogs.

The pupils were then called to the school’s quad, where they could watch PD Atlas in action against Sgt Butterworth behind a safe barrier.

Local PCSOs also brought along police carriers, both little and large – from an armed response vehicle to little play car BOBIE, overseen by Stoke-on-Trent south Chief Inspector Robert Hessell.

Chief Constable, Chris Noble, said: “I’m so pleased I was able to spend some time with pupils at Oakhill Primary School.

“Life skills come in many different forms and it was brilliant to be able to find out more about the children’s perspectives on policing in their area and help them to understand what we do every day.

“This is what our new policing model is all about – getting out to our communities and engaging with young people in a positive and productive way.”

PCSO Sherratt, who has been a PCSO in Staffordshire for over 15-years, said: “It was so heart-warming to see all the children so enthusiastic and upbeat with the officers.

“The life skills week was designed to cover a wide range of activities for the pupils – from road safety, bike ability, water safety, dog safety and first aid.

“The school has been so welcoming since I started in the area and these types of community events are an essential way the force can continue to embed itself into hearts of the public.”