P7 children at police event in Strathclyde Park

Mar 10 2010 by Graham Miller, Wishaw Press

STRATHCLYDE Police are hoping that around 4000 youngsters will have taken part in an event by the time it ends in a couple of weeks.

The scheme, called NLKIDZ, is for primary seven youngsters from across North Lanarkshire and it will end on March 23 after running for six weeks at Strathclyde Park, near Motherwell.

Officers are teaming up with the Fire Service and North Lanarkshire Council to give the children demonstrations on vandalism, fire safety, home safety, crime prevention, personal safety, road safety, railway safety and drug and alcohol misuse.

Sgt Russell Jakeway, of Strathclyde Police Community Safety department, said: “This is a large commitment for North Lanarkshire, but one that we think will give long term benefits to the children of the area.

“Young people from every primary school across North Lanarkshire will take part and, we hope, learn from the experience.

“It is important that children are equipped with the necessary life skills to help them cope with new situations and challenges in everyday life.

“We hope this event will be a good constructive learning experience as well as a fun environment for the children.”

The timing of the event coincides with the children progressing into secondary education after the school holidays in the Summer.

It is also designed to assist youngsters make the transition from children to teenagers within a new and potentially frightening environment.

Wishaw Press photographer Jim Donnelly went along last week to take some pictures of the activities.