'Mini Police' keep watchful eye on drivers in Gonerby

‘Mini Police’ have been carrying out road safety awareness outside their primary school. The uniformed youngsters at Gonerby Hill Foot School were joined by Pc Pete Nettleton and PCSO Alison Molloy.

Pc Nettleton carried out speed checks on vehicles travelling along the main road outside of the school before the children were given a chance to quiz volunteer motorists on speeding. No motorists were found to be travelling too fast.

The questions centred around whether motorists were aware of why a 20mph advisory speed limit is in place near schools, what the ‘Fatal 4’ is, and why motorists should slow down near schools.

The ‘Mini Police’ explained the ‘Fatal 4,’ the main reasons why collisions can happen: drink/drug driving, mobile phone use, excess speed and not wearing a seatbelt.

Connor, one of the ‘Mini Police’, said: “It is nice to see motorists are not speeding outside our school. I think our presence has made a difference. Hopefully cars slow down when driving near our school. Speeding is dangerous as there’s a lot of children in the area.”

Pc Nettleton, community beat manager, said: “I was very impressed the children at the school were very aware of speeding and the dangers of speeding. The ‘Mini Police’ are very dedicated to their role. I would like to thank those who I stopped for taking part.”

It was reassuring to that motorists we did stop were driving safely.”

Lincolnshire Police is working with around 120 schools countywide to deliver its ‘Mini Police’ programme. Children receive their own uniform and will help others at school and people of all ages in their local community.

Assistant Chief Constable Shaun West, who is the chair of the National VPC Training Board for Mini Police and Police Cadets, said: "I am delighted to see the Mini Police at Gonerby Hill Foot Church of England school investigate the impact of speeding. Mini Police delivers lessons across Lincolnshire primary schools and to see the students take the lesson out of the classroom to drivers is fantastic.

“The ‘fatal 4’ lesson is just one of many lessons delivered by the Lincolnshire Mini Police team. I’m so proud of the way schools, classmates and parents are embracing the project and I look forward to seeing plenty more of this across all 119 primary schools. I have an aspiration, further investment permitting, to offer Mini Police to all schools across our county.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones added: “The Mini Police is a fantastic way to educate our youngsters about responsibility and the importance of contributing positively to their local community. By working with these children we hope they will become very powerful voices both at school and in their community which could help to keep people safe from scams or save lives on the road.

“As ambassadors at school, they also help us share really important information about bullying and the dangers of strangers.

“Not least we are helping to create a generation who will understand the positive work police do, the importance of protecting a community and how each individual really can make a difference. I am totally committed to the success of this project and look forward to helping it go from strength to strength.”

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