Thringstone Primary School was one of the venues for the launch of Mini Police - which will see pupils aged nine and 10 taking part in activities to build their skills, independence and personal development.

As part of the pilot programme, groups of year five students from three schools - including Thringstone - will take part in sessions designed to introduce children to a positive experience of policing, get them involved in the local community and also offer age appropriate safety awareness.

The programme will be delivered in school during one lesson a week and forms part of the Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) education.

Topics covered will be identified in partnership with the school and will involve current community and police priorities and areas for concern – for example knife crime, internet safety and road safety.

Sessions will be delivered with the support of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) from the local neighbourhood police team – enabling police, schools and other partners to continue to work together to educate, support and safeguard children.

Police Sergeant Marina Waka, who is leading the pilot in Leicestershire, said: "We are so pleased to be introducing the Mini Police programme in Leicestershire and I am looking forward to see how the programme progresses.

"Mini police programmes have been successfully running in other forces across the country for many years, and seeing the positives it can bring to children, made it something I wanted to introduce here in Leicestershire.

"The aim of the sessions is to offer a fun and interactive way of introducing children to positive experiences of policing, nurture feelings of social and moral responsibility and encourage children to make help make a positive impact in their local community."

"PCSOs based in the communities will be working closely with the children, so will be alive to the issues in the community, which will be different in different areas across the county.

"The first seven weeks will be introducing the pupils to the force, the work of the police and the different roles within the police service.

"They will all be given a mini police hi-vis jacket, police cap and pocket notebook and will take part in their attestation at the end of the first seven weeks.

Photo: Leicestershire Police

"The same children will then move onto the second part of the curriculum, learning about the different topics identified by the police and the school.

"Alongside this the aim is to get them involved in their local community – allowing them to take ownership and give back to the area they live.

"The group will also be responsible for presenting what they have learnt to the rest of the school so the learning can be passed on to other children, before finishing the course at the end of the summer term."

If the programme is a success, the hope is Mini Police will launch in more schools from September.

Any schools who wish to find out more or register their interest in the programme should visit HERE.

The programme is funded by the Office of Leicestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner, with an aim to promote citizenship and foster an interest in volunteering.

Rani Mahal, the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner said: "The Mini Police initiative is an asset to any modern police force.

"As far as I am concerned, this is all about portraying a positive image of the police and of police officers to our younger residents and helping support diversionary and preventative strategies to help young people develop a positive approach to social and moral responsibility, safety and policing, through a fun and interesting programme of activities.

"Just as cadets are valuable to young people and society, Mini Police will offer another outlet for young people to grow and learn.

"It was a truly wonderful launch to Mini Police in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, and we owe Thringstone Primary School a massive thanks for hosting us. Thank you to everyone involved."

The school posted on its social media account and said: "Mini Police is an interactive engagement project allowing children to step into the shoes of their local community policing team.

"Thringstone Primary School was lucky enough to be one of two schools chosen to launch the scheme in Leicestershire.

"Mini Police is being backed by Leicestershire's Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews and is designed to give primary school children a positive and fun introduction to the work of police officers and encourage their involvement in volunteering.

"The scheme is part of the National Volunteer Police Cadets (NVPC) programme and was delivered to Cheetahs and Snow Leopards last week.

"The aim is to build confidence and trust in the work of the Police and develop a sense of social justice and moral responsibility."