Police reward good young citizens
Richard BatsonSchoolgirls who put litter in a bin have earned some free swimming sessions under a joint police and business initiative to reward good citizenship at North Walsham.Richard Batson
Schoolgirls who put litter in a bin have earned some free swimming sessions under a joint police and business initiative to reward good citizenship at North Walsham.
Others who obeyed 'no cycling' signs in a pedestrian precinct and a girl who helped tidy up a pile of rubbish behind the abandoned Woolworths store have also won vouchers under the scheme.
The local Safer Neighbourhood Team covering 25 parishes are using the donated sessions at a pool and a play centre to praise the good behaviour of young people
Police Community Support Officer Tony Callaghan said: 'People will ask why we are rewarding people for doing things correctly, but we need to educate young people.
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'We do give out warnings when we see people doing wrong, but we give praise too when they are doing it right - and in some special cases we give out the vouchers.'
They included two 13-year-old girls who put their chip trays in a rubbish bin; two 12-year-old boys who walked their cycles through a precinct and had all the right safety gear; and a seven year old girl helping her dad tidy up an unsightly pile of rubbish left behind the closed Woolworths - all in North Walsham.
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The rewards have been donated by the Victory pool - for the older children - and the Run Wild play and activity centre for the younger ones.
PSCO Callaghan added: 'When I call the youngsters over they look nervous. When I offer praise they are overwhelmed and a bit embarrassed. And word soon gets around among the young people.'