Monday, December 22, 2025
Ribble Valley Police is proud to announce the successful completion of the Mini Police program with Year 5 & 6 pupils from Barrow Primary School. This 10-week initiative ran one day each week after school and aimed to give children a unique insight into policing, community safety, and teamwork.
Throughout the program, pupils experienced a wide range of engaging activities designed to build confidence and understanding of policing. They began by receiving their uniforms and completing a fitness test, before learning the phonetic alphabet and exploring the role of police officers, including demonstrations of public order kit. The following weeks introduced them to CSI techniques and specialist units such as the Police Dogs and Mounted teams. Later sessions focused on problem-solving and community engagement, with pupils creating anti-littering posters, and taking part in a foot patrol to display their posters in local businesses.
The program concluded with a Passing Out Parade, where each child received a certificate from the local Neighbourhood Sergeant, Duncan Hall, celebrating their commitment and achievements.
Sgt Duncan Hall from the Ribble Valley Neighbourhood Team said: “The Mini Police sessions help to break down barriers between the police and local community.
“All the children involved have put in fantastic effort, and it has been a pleasure to watch their excitement every week.
“I trust that these young people will be great role models for their peers!”
Mrs. Nicola McArdle, Executive Headteacher at Barrow Primary School added: “We are incredibly proud to have been the first school to pilot the new Mini Police initiative, run by Ribble Valley Police.
“It was an amazing experience and one that the children, and the staff involved, gained a huge amount from. The programme taught our pupils about respect, responsibility, and the importance of playing an active role within their community. It also gave them a valuable insight into the wide range of roles and responsibilities within the police force.
“I cannot recommend this programme highly enough. We are incredibly grateful to Ribble Valley Police for organising and delivering such an inspiring initiative. Any school lucky enough to secure a place will not regret it, and we can only hope that numbers remain limited enough for the Mini Police team to return to Barrow again very soon!
“We are exceptionally proud of our Mini Police recruits and the example they have set to others.”
Ribble Valley Police would like to thank Barrow Primary School, our partners, and the incredible pupils who embraced this opportunity to learn and make a difference.
