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.
'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.'
