Pint-sized patrols to fine Walsall drivers at school
A second scheme training up pint-sized police community support officers to walk the beat in Walsall and tackle parking issues around their school has been launched.
Pupils at Park Hall Junior Academy will be able to issue warning notices to drivers, which could lead to a £30 fine, following complaints about inconsiderate parking and dangerous driving near the school.
It comes after a similar scheme ran successfully at Short Heath Junior School, which was the first to launch in the borough last year. Dressed in fluorescent jackets and black peak caps, 20 youngsters from the school in Park Hall Road will carry out morning and afternoon patrols with officers.
Pc James Ellingworth said: "This is an ongoing problem for schools across the country let alone Walsall.
"In my day parents would have walked their kids to school but most people seem to use the car now. A number of parents chose to ignore the road markings and park ? if even just for a minute ? in areas designed to be kept clear so that kids crossing the road can see oncoming danger from the kerbside.
The new recruits all had to apply for the role and undertook six hours of training in which they learnt to identify road safety signs and traffic offences.
All have been issued with a book of warning notices which resemble real parking tickets.
If a driver is handed two warnings by the youngsters a real £30 fine is issued by officers.
