A NEW ZEALAND police officer spent a day with the Cheshire Police Safer Schools Team after being impressed by the work that was being done to support youngsters.

Terri Middleton, a senior constable from Greymouth, joined the Safer Schools team on Friday, June 21 as part of a three week study visit to find out more about lockdown procedures, discover more about the resources delivered to students and observe how effective strategies are implemented.

PC Middleton, will also link in with other forces in Merseyside, Wales and Yorkshire before reporting back on her findings.

She said: “I found the whole day really informative, it was interesting to hear how the Police Community Support Officers play an important early contact role in youth engagement, as that role doesn’t specifically exist in New Zealand.

“I can see how the regular meetings allow the team to share ideas, reflect on previous incidents and generally support each other to make sure youths are educated and supported in the most effective ways was very useful.

“Taking part in the collaboration meeting with the Complex Youth and SSYP Team in the afternoon allowed me to get a better understanding of how Cheshire are working hard to prevent young people from entering the criminal justice system, I’d like to say thanks to everyone involved in allowing me to visit and being such lovely hosts.

"I was able to chat to everyone in the team and ask lots of questions.

"It’s reassuring to know that although we are on the other side of the globe there are so many shared ways that young people are being safeguarded."

Working in a prevention role with schools, PC Middleton had first got in contact with Cheshire Police after discovering the engagement work the Safer School Youth Partnership Team (SSYP) were doing with youngsters in the region.

Cheshire Police Youth Engagement co-ordinator PC Amy Fletcher said: “It was an absolute pleasure to host Terri, who is a very experienced officer.

"It was interesting to find out about similar approaches but also new ideas which will be helpful in future to myself and the SSYP Team.

“It was fascinating to learn about the vast area and huge number of schools that Terri has to cover and how she overcomes those challenges to engage with her community.

"I am hoping for a reciprocal visit but I think there is a queue of people wanting to be involved if any trip does go ahead.”