Mansfield students enjoy eye-opening visit to Nottinghamshire Police headquarters

The interactive event is designed to foster closer relationships with young people and to help them build their trust and confidence in police officers.

Around 50 pupils had the opportunity to tour different activity stations around headquarters in Arnold, hosted by different force departments.

Officers and staff welcomed pupils from around Nottinghamshire, including West Nottinghamshire College.

They learnt how officers use drones and a range of vehicles, tried on body armour with firearms officers, gained insight into the world of cybercrime, and toured the force control room, where real 999 calls are handled.

At the kennels, pupils heard from experienced police dog trainers, activated car sirens, and tried on a padded bite jacket.

Pupils were invited by the force’s youth outreach team, which often works with children at risk of offending or exclusion from education.

They are experts at working with young people in an informal and engaging way to earn their trust and overcome the barriers often associated with a traditional police uniform.

They aim to help young people make positive life choices, amplify their voices, and improve relationships between the police, communities, and young people by offering bespoke one-to-one support and referrals to other specialist services.

Tremayne Blair, Nottinghamshire Police’s youth outreach team coordinator, said: “Initiatives like this are crucial for breaking down barriers often associated with policing and are effective at helping to prevent criminality.

“Informal settings help us engage directly with young people to build their confidence so that they feel comfortable approaching the police with any of their concerns.

“It is really rewarding to be able to host visits like this and engage with young people, supporting their education and providing a guiding hand to the communities we serve.”