Budding journalists at Sarisbury Junior School put pen to paper to write crime stories in a newspaper style.
Lauren Batten and Ajay Subhan, both 7, found evidence while searching the crime scene
Learning the art of journalism the Year 3 classes at the school in Allotment Road had a Police Day where they investigated a crime with the forces from Park Gate.
The pupils were able to see first-hand how police tackle crime by vigorously searching through evidence, dusting for finger prints and using finger and foot print analysis on possible suspects, as well as questioning key witnesses.
A helicopter swooped to the scene, along with police cars and a sniffer dog.
The children eagerly asked questions, searched for evidence at the crime scene wearing protective clothing and took part in a series of writing exercises in order to understand and achieve the values of newspaper reporting.
Organiser and Year 3 leader, Rebecca Bleeck, said: “We wanted to give them a situation to write about. So we asked PC Wild to help us with a situation.
Hannah Hutton and Ysabel Marsh, both 8, dust for finger prints
“When they experience something it boosts their writing. They’re so excited and so keen and it’s not something they experience every day.
“It gives them an idea about a career path they may choose and it gives them the insight, as well as that link with the community.”
Seven-year-old Martha Weavers was excited to learn about how the police investigate crimes and had her footprint taken for evidence.
“I enjoyed looking to see if people could have been a suspect for the crime,” she said.
“I like it because I learnt they use lots of different things like finger prints and foot prints and to find out who could have done it and ask lots of people to see what they think about the crime.”
PC Jackie Wild from Park Gate Safer Neighbourhood Team said the children thoroughly participated in the Police Day.
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“It’s nice for them to understand what happens when there is a criminal and knowing what to report to the police,” she said. “They very confidently asked good questions.”
PC Jane Watts, who showed children how police dust for finger prints, added: “It’s all about assisting them with investigating skills – asking who, what, when.
“So we’re helping them with their descriptive language and vocabulary, as well as them seeing the side of the police work that they might only have ever seen on television.”
The Gazette has linked up with the school to show you some of the pupils’ stories.
Click here to see the news reports from each class.
Click one of the images below to launch the image gallery
