DOUGLAS police officers staged CSI (crime scene investigation) events at a number of schools as part of Children's Week.
Members of Douglas Neighbourhood Policing Team organised or attended events at most schools in the town for the week-long series of events last week.
Political wards across the capital have been given dedicated ward managers by the Douglas Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Sergeant Wendy Barker said Children’s Week was the perfect opportunity to make contact.
She said: "There are 15 Douglas schools and it’s important we get to know the children.
"Already students at St Ninian’s, Park Road and Ballakermeen are getting used to seeing a number of officers through the lunchtime drop-ins, so they don’t always assume that something bad has happened when we turn up.
"Being able to go out to the schools has gone down a storm.
"We have staged CSI events at St Ninian’s, Park Road, and Ballakermeen High Schools. The students spent a whole morning learning investigation techniques to solve a crime, eventually identifying the offender and making an arrest. Assistance was also offered by the Police Dog unit.
"It's fun, like all the events in Children's Week, but it's also about building relationships with the children, and showing that the police also offer support."
Deputy head at Park Road Rob Cowley said: "Eighty students in Year 8 picked this activity as their first choice and we had a hard job selecting the 21 who were able to participate.
"It has been fantastic – five teachers were suspects in the theft of a computer. The students took footprints, had the crime scene roped off with tape, set up an investigation base with mug shots until they deduced the culprit – who turned out to be their head of year Miss Ruth Whittam.
"It is great fun but is also a way of the police interacting with the children to demonstrate lots of scientific techniques and build up good relationships. They come in Friday lunchtimes to eat lunch with the children and have really become part of the school community."
Events during Children’s Week included a cake sale and a school disco (Murray’s Road), leavers’ assemblies (Fairfield and Ballaquayle), lightkeepers’ lunch (Ballaquayle), prize presentation (Fairfield), summer fair (Anagh Coar) and a Year 2 leavers’ party at Ballacloan School, attended by PC Jo Williams.
She said: "I visit all the schools in Derby Ward: Ballacloan, Fairfield, Murray’s Road and Park Road.
"The children leaving Ballacloan will be moving on in September to Fairfield and it will help that I have been able to visit them whilst they have been at Ballacloan.
"By making regular visits to the schools and being involved in school events, you become a part of their community. For some of the children who are new to the Island this is their first experience of meeting the police.
"‘It’s important we establish links at an early age, so we can build trust and encourage communication and that the police become a face they can trust."
Ballacloan head teacher Jill Gill said: "In my time at the school, 12 years as head and five before that as deputy, I have experienced this kind of community policing and I welcome its return.
"It takes away the mystery and the children come to understand that people like Jo are there as much to help as to deter crime. It all boils down to having a positive relationship."
A number of other officers in their role of ward manager have attended many events this week in Douglas primary schools.
Officers continued their interaction with young people by travelling on a selection of school buses on the last day of term.
Sergeant Barker added: "There have been occasional complaints about the behaviour of a very small number of people on school buses but it’s the last day of term and there may be high jinks. We want to be part of the fun but also ensure that the rules are followed, and hope to continue to build good relationships with the students by being available to talk informally as well as at the bigger organised events."
