Police in Bargoed have launched a new set of ‘Top Trump’ style cards to help local children get to know their local officers.
Each member of the Bargoed Neighbourhood Policing Team and the local Caerphilly Council Community Safety Warden has their own ‘Know Your Bobby’ trading card showing their picture, name and contact details.
Children from junior schools in the area have been given a collector’s board with two cards to get them started. The idea is for them to approach officers and ask them for a card.
Schools taking part are Tir-y-Berth Primary School, Fleur-de-Lys Primary School, Pengam Primary School, Greenhill Primary School, Glyngaer Primary School and Ysgol Trelyn Primary School.
Similar schemes in the past have been hailed a success.
The project is jointly funded by the Glan y Nant, Tir-y-Berth and Gelligaer, Penybryn Communities First Partnerships and the Pengam Partnership. The Partnerships all work to help improve the area and the lives of those who reside there.
Pengam PCSO Lesley Mckean, said: “This is such a different way of encouraging the school pupils to speak to their local police officers, as well as providing them with important safety advice. The cards also have our contact details on them, so if the children have any concerns or worries, we hope that they would be confident to get in contact with us.
“Children often like to collect cards or stickers, so hopefully they will enjoy taking part in this scheme. The pupil who manages to fill the board first will receive a prize, and every other pupil who completes the boards will receive a goodie bag.”
Bill Griffiths, Chair of the Gelligaer and Penynryn Communities First Partnership said: “The scheme offers young people from the areas a chance to get to know their local police officers, making the young people feel more comfortable to report crimes in the future. They will also become more aware of the issues in their communities and what can happen to them if they commit crime.”