Cop Cards Brought To Life For Lucky Telford Children

The six Telford & Wrekin Cop Card winners at Hindlip Hall with (from left to right) CSOs Ann Moore, Karl Jolly and Andy Protheroe.Six children from Telford had a VIP visit to West Mercia Police headquarters last weekend as their prize for being the first children to collect all 25 of the force's Cop Cards.

The trading cards have proved to be a huge hit with local children since their launch in April. Many have now collected all 25 of the playing card-sized laminated cards, but only the first five in each of the five policing divisions were invited for a behind-the-scenes visit of Hindlip Hall outside Worcester.

The lucky six from Telford - Ryan Rennell from Malinslee, brothers Nathan and Alfie Moreton from Newport (who had collected the cards together), Callum Edge from Malinslee, Lauryn Jones from Malinslee and Francisco Osuna Chudluo from Newport - were the first to present their completed set for checking at a local police station front counter or to a local community support officer.

In return, on Saturday 17 July, they were able to see their Cop Cards brought to life by visiting a number of operational policing departments - including the Dog Section, Roads Policing, Crime Scene Investigators and the Firearms School.

West Mercia Police hopes the cards, which are aimed at children aged seven to 14, are fun way to for them get to know their local officers and CSOs as well as learning essential safety messages.

Each card carries a picture and description of a different policing role and a message to help children stay safe, ranging from internet safety to stranger danger.

Community Support Officer (CSO) Andy Protheroe - who along with CSOs Karl Jolly and Ann Moore accompanied the winners on their visit to Worcester - said:

"I believe the Cop Cards initiative has been a huge success and the young people I have spoken to have really enjoyed trying to collect all the cards. They've been able to learn more about the police service but also take part in a competition with all their friends while collecting the cards.

"For our local winners the trip to Police HQ was the icing on the cake and they were amazed by some of the things they saw and the access they were given. This really was a unique trip and the children all smiled from the moment they arrived at Hindlip Hall until the moment they left.

"I know they particularly enjoyed being able to dress up in police uniform and I have to say that one or two of them looked very comfortable and may have found a future career!

"The children were really grateful to West Mercia Police for organising this visit as a reward for being among the first to collect all 25 Cop Cards and there's no doubt that we provided them with a day they'll never forget."

Issued: Wednesday 21 July 2010