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A children’s book about the role of the police in the community has been released.

‘Who said pigs can’t fly?‘ was written by children’s author Mike Church, with help from Gwent Police and residents of Lansbury Park, Caerphilly.

The book aims to portray the positive role police have in the community and aims to tackle negative perceptions.

The story follows a young girl who becomes scared after accidentally taking an item from a shop without paying.

The book was published by Bargoed-based Petra Publishing, which works with local community groups to write children’s stories.

It was launched at Van Community Centre, in Lansbury Park – which ranked as the second most deprived area in Wales on the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation, which was released in 2019.

Mr Church said: “It was an absolute pleasure working with the police and the people of Lansbury Park.

“It just shows what happens when people come together and share ideas. I hope the book is enjoyed by many far and wide as a good story.

“Maybe it can make people think about the very real and difficult job the police do as an integral part of our communities.”

Gwent Police Chief Constable Pam Kelly and Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Deputy Leader, Jamie Pritchard, both joined Mr Church at the launch event.

Chief Constable Kelly said: “As well as combating crime and keeping our neighbourhoods safe, our officers work hard to engage with younger generations.

“This helps build trust and a strong bond in our communities and lets children and adults know that, when they need us, we are here to provide the support they need.”

Gwent Police Inspector Gavin Clifton, who grew up in Lansbury Park, said: “When I was younger, I was inspired by how a local officer connected with the community.

“He showed me how to deal with people from all backgrounds with honesty and respect and he gave me a real sense of purpose.

“My message to young people reading this book: never let your ambitions be limited – if you set your heart and mind to something, there is no reason why you can’t achieve your goal.”

Following the book launch, copies of the book were given to those in attendance, while Mr Church and police Community Support Officers visited nearby houses to give free copies to residents.