Watton cop card youngsters get VIP treatment

THREE lucky youngsters have been given a VIP tour of Norfolk police headquarters after coming up trumps in a recent competition.

THREE lucky youngsters have been given a VIP tour of Norfolk police headquarters after coming up trumps in a recent competition.

Over the summer holidays school children in Watton have been busily collecting so called cop cards issued by officer from the town's Safer neighbourhood team.

Any youngster who bagged the full set of cards, which featured pictures of each officer, the local police dog and various pieces of police equipment, was entered in a prize draw last month.

Now the winners, Joshua Reynolds, eight, Jodie Thompson, eight, and Jordon Parodi,11, have collected their prize, a trip round Norfolk Constabulary's operations and communications centre in Wymondham and an MP3 player each.

During their day at Wymondham the youngsters had the opportunity to see the Armed Response Unit, Crime Scene Investigation unit, training police officers in action and Gold Command, the room set aside for major police operations.

The cop cards project, led by Breckland Council's anti social behaviour team, was aimed at the seven - 11-year-olds and hoped to break down barriers between police and youngsters and allow them to get to know their local officers by sight and name.

Insp Ady Porter said: 'Watton cop cards have been a hit with children and parents alike.

'The children and parents of Watton have got to know their local police team in a really fun way.'