Copper cards are launched
Police hope to convince Walsall schoolchildren not to keep their cards so close to their chest after launching a scheme designed to bridge the generation gap.
Police hope to convince Walsall schoolchildren not to keep their cards so close to their chest after launching a scheme designed to bridge the generation gap.
Beat bobbies will give out Pokemon-style trading cards to youngsters across the borough in an effort to break down barriers. The Copper Cards scheme will run for the next 11 weeks.
Young people can get cards from officers out on foot patrol with two available to collect from officers and police stations in the area each week. Cards bear pictures including a scene reminiscent of TV show Life on Mars and others show uniformed officers.
Chief Superintendent Jo Byrne, said: "Our young collectors should think of their neighbourhood team as a Premiership football team as they can collect the cards in the same way as they collect football stickers."
Cards can be collected from Bloxwich, Walsall, Aldridge, Darlaston, Willenhall and Brownhills police stations. Each of the 22 cards depicts local policing over the years and has a crime prevention message aimed at 7 to 11-year-olds.
Those who collect 22 can claim a further two limited edition cards by writing to the Walsall Community Safety team. Those who write in will automatically be entered into a draw to win a mountain bike, iPod and other prizes. The first 200 entries received will also get a Copper Cards collectors album.