Archive Hour: Inspired pupils want to be cops

CRIME-FIGHTING pupils from Dumbarton and the Vale joined forces with the police to get a taste of life as a copper.

From learning how to defend themselves when attacked, to seeing how cops use state-of-the-art technology in murder cases, the high school kids thoroughly enjoyed their week shadowing the officers.

And most of the teenagers came away from the work experience activities fired up to join the force.

Fourth and fifth years from Our Lady and St Patrick’s High, Dumbarton Academy and Vale of Leven Academy got the chance to take part in the scheme. Sean McKay, 15, in fourth year at Dumbarton Academy, said he was really interested in seeing how the police went about their work.

He told the Reporter: “Before doing this, I didn’t realise there were so many different jobs in the police, so I learned a lot about that.

“Seeing how the dog branch operated was good, and I think I’d now say I’d consider becoming a police officer. I think the firearms division would be where I’d want to go.”

While Jemma Armitage, 15,, a fourth year at Vale of Leven Academy, felt that working in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) would be her career choice.

She said: “We’ve been learning stuff this week that we wouldn’t have learned anywhere else. “I really enjoyed it when the police gave us a demonstration showing us how they use their defensive strikes when being attacked, as well as seeing how they use forensics in investigating crimes.”

“I feel after work experience that I want to join the police more now than I did before, because it is a

Inspired pupils want to be cops

KIDS at a Dumbarton primary have donated hundreds of pounds to a worthy cause, after months of hard work. Pupils at St Michael’s Primary School, in Castlehill, raised £604 for the Quarriers charity. The caring children raised vital funds by holding a bake sale, an out of uniform day, a raffle, a penalty kick competition and a spare change amnesty.

Quarriers works to support and care many vulnerable groups across the country, and the St Michaels’ kids chose it as their charity of the year. Tricia Imrie, fundraising manager for Quarriers, said: “It’s great to see local children putting so much effort into raising funds. They’ve been so dedicated and generous — we appreciate every penny and every pound that people donate.”

A TEEN has been arrested for allegedly dealing class B drugs. The 19-year-old was allegedly caught with amphetamines after cops noticed the suspect acting strangely in a car park at a hotel off the A82 in Alexandria at 8.40pm on Monday January 26.

Cops bust ‘drug dealer’

Week-long training could breed the next batch of recruits

good way to help people.” The youngsters, who were joined by pupils from Clydebank High, St Columba’s and St Andrew’s High, also visited a police museum, Glasgow Sheriff Court and Celtic’s Parkhead stadium, to see how the cops police football matches. PC David Russell, for Dumbarton, and PC Robin

Faulds for Clydebank led the week of activities for the pupils. PC Russell told the Reporter: “It’s encouraging to see how the youngsters, who didn’t know each other at the start of the week, interact and form friendships. “This week helps foster good relations between the youngsters and the police.” PC Faulds added: “It’s a fantastic week offering the youngsters of West Dunbartonshire a great insight into the diverse nature of policing and the varied roles open to them if they choose to join Strathclyde Police.”