Children from High Oakham Primary School, Mansfield, helped to celebrate the first birthday of the Nottinghamshire Mini Police project.

The scheme aims to give children in the city and county the chance to learn about policing as well as gain vital skills and having fun.

Thirty pupils from High Oakham and Carnarvon Primary School, Bingham, attended a birthday celebration hosted by Assistant Chief Constable Steve Cooper. They met officers from the Operational Support team, including police pups in training PD Pip and PD Billy; got the chance to sit in a police car and switch the sirens on); and listened to the force’s Underwater and Specialist Search Unit’s experiences.

ACC Cooper said: “This is all about educating and engaging with young people from an early age — they are our next generation of, not only possible police officers, but community leaders, parents and teachers.

“If we take the time to empower them with the skills they will need for the future, we stand a much better chance of building strong, cohesive and confident communities for many years to come.”