YOUNGSTERS from Willowdown Primary School were able to ge a first hand glimpse of police officers at work during a tour of Bridgwater policing centre.

PCSO Julie Currie and PCSO Dan Wheller engineered the tour as part of their community engagement programme which gave the children the opportunity to sit in a police Land Rover, sound the sirens and try on police hats.

The children aged five and six learnt how to take finger prints and went away with a book mark to remember their experience.

Dog Handler Mandy Gornicki and police dogs Buddy and Argo gave a wonderful demonstration on ‘search and find’ drugs detection.

PC Dan Wheller was brave enough to do a ‘run and stop’ demonstration to show the children how obedient police dogs are to the command of their handler.

PCSO Currie said: “I am the PCSO for Willowdown School and a familiar face around their domain. It’s important that the children know that they can come to us with any of their concerns and to know that we are here to help.

“Inviting them into the policing centre is another step to building bridges with our younger members of the community. It was a pleasure to answer their questions and the excitement on their faces said it all.”

PC Wheller said: “It’s a great opportunity to engage with our younger community and to show them the value of policing.

“A police station is a very exciting place for children and it was great to see them laughing and joking with us. I hope the key message the children took away with them is that we are approachable and friendly.”