West Midlands Police tour schools as part of operation Serve and Protect
THOUSANDS of school children from across the West Midlands will be visited by police this week in a bid to keep them safe over the summer holidays.
Police officers and police staff from every corner of the force will be visiting schools as part of operation Serve and Protect – a forcewide crackdown on robbers.
During the special assemblies and classes, youngsters will be given personal safety advice and encouraged to register their valuables on the national police property register ‘immobilise.com’ so that they can be reunited with their iPod, bike or mobile, if they are lost or stolen and later recovered by police.
They will also be reminded of the consequences robbers face when arrested for their crimes.
To reinforce their message, officers will be showing a short film entitled ‘Robbery. Get a proper Life’.
Aimed at year 6 students upwards, the film – available to view via the force’s YouTube account – covers the serious consequences of committing robbery, explains safety strategies to reduce the risk of becoming a victim and explores the affects of robbery on victims.
At the end of the film, school children will also be encouraged to contact the independent charity Crimestoppers with information on those committing robberies in their neighbourhood.
The move comes during a forcewide crackdown on robbery codenamed operation Serve and Protect.
Launched at the start of July, the operation aims to tackle an anticipated seasonal rise in robbery offences through a range of tough tactics which target offenders.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Markham from West Midlands Police, said: “While operation Serve and Protect is a forcewide focus on robbers, we recognise that there is much that people can do to reduce their chances of becoming a victim of crime.
“By going into schools and showing this film, we hope to share important safety messages with young people.”
For advice on how to how to stay safe when out and about, visit: www.safer-streets.org
