Local children are special guests at Stevenage Police Station

Local children from the Filipino and Thai communities in Stevenage were special guests at Stevenage Police Station last week.

Aged between 6 and 11 years old, the group of 10 children visited the station for the morning on Thursday 4 April.

Firstly, they met Chief Inspector for Stevenage - Graeme Walsingham, who helped them get to grips with some police equipment and try their hand at taking fingerprints.

It was then off to custody for a tour of the cells, before learning what happens when a suspect is interviewed after arrest.

Officers from the Dog and Road Policing Units then took the children round some police vehicles, and they got to meet two of the force’s canine detectives.

The group also spoke to officers from British Transport Police who talked about their role on the railway network and officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, Community Safety Unit, response teams and the Children and Young Person Team, who also chatted to the children about their roles and answered questions.

The visit was organised by PCSO Cheryl Cullen who said: “We have a very diverse community here in Stevenage and this was an opportunity to build relationships with the children from our Thai and Filipino families.

“It is important that children understand the role of the police and how they can help them and be helped themselves. It was also a chance to educate them about the work that we do and hopefully inspire them to have a career within the police force in the future.”