A FUN way for youngsters to get to know their local police officers is proving to be a huge hit at Breckland schools, thanks to Breckland Council's Sustainable Communities team.

A FUN way for youngsters to get to know their local police officers is proving to be a huge hit at Breckland schools, thanks to Breckland Council's Sustainable Communities team.

Pupils at Parker's Church of England Primary School in Saham Toney, St Peter and St Paul VC Primary School in Carbrooke, Thompson Primary School and Caston VA Primary School were chosen to test out a new Cop Card campaign which involved collecting and swapping picture cards all about their neighbourhood beat officers and the Council's sustainable communities team.

To help the Cop Swap collectors, local officers make regular visits to the schools to chat with pupils and hand out cards.

As well as picture cards of officers, youngsters collected cards featuring police dogs and even the police helicopter. Children can meet Razor the police dog and the superintendent at Watton Library on Saturday , between 10.30 am and 12.30pm.

Youngsters get a card each time they meet an officer - either at school or out and about in the neighbourhood. The children will be asked a simple question on road safety, personal safety or Watton. If the children give the correct answer they will be given a sticker to place in their album.

Stephen Askew, executive member for Communities said: “We have been overwhelmed by the success of the scheme so far.

“Many youngsters are taking part, which I'm sure has helped them get to know their local officers by name and by sight and learn about the work they do.”

He said the scheme has proved to be a fun way for youngsters to interact with local officers and encourage them and their families to build good, positive relationships with neighbourhood police and our own safety officers.

“We are extremely grateful for the help from our local police force who were very supportive of the initiative as a way of building citizenship skills among young people.”

The children will need to return their albums to their school by July 17 and will receive a certificate of participation and all completed albums will be entered into a prize draw which will take place at Watton Police Station on Friday, September 4, 2009.