Flintshire Schools Bid Farwell To Their Officer

A Flintshire School Community Police Officer is hanging up her boots and bidding farwell to her pupils after 13 years’ service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

PC Gail Sinclair, who joined the national Schoolbeat programme when it first launched in 2004, is retiring after over 30 years’ service with North Wales Police. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The popular officer has looked after the schools of North Flintshire and surrounding area over the last 13 years and is feeling mixed emotions regarding her retirement. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my service with the Force, in particular as a School Community Police Officer. You get a real sense of being part of a team with the schools and the teachers I have worked alongside all these years are like colleagues to me. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Over the last couple of weeks I have been inundated with well wishes from all of my schools and many have held special assemblies in my honour which has been quite emotional. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“My last lesson was held in Ysgol Bro Carmel, where I was once a pupil which was really special.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During her 13 years as a School Community Police Officer it is estimated that she has delivered safeguarding education to over 24,000 pupils. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“A few months ago I was delivering a lesson in one of my schools when one of the teachers approached me and said she remembered me from her own school days. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I joined the police because I wanted to make a difference. It has been a real privilege to meet and work with fantastic children and their teachers and I am going to miss them all very much.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Schools Liaison Co-ordinator, Mannon Williams said: “As a valued member of the North Wales School Liaison team for 13 years, we will miss PC Sinclair, as will all her schools. We sincerely hope she enjoys her well-earned retirement.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The All Wales School Liaison Core Programme is a national programme jointly funded by the Welsh Government and the four Police Forces of Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since 2004, School Community Police Officers (SCPO) across North Wales have been forging positive relationships with children and young people through delivering important crime prevention and safety lessons, while supporting the schools’ and children’s wellbeing. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​