Special Young Visitors To North Wales Police

A special group of young people spent the day with North Wales Police and got a great insight into the varied work of the force. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The seventeen children, who are from the Ukraine and Belarus, spent time with staff and officers as part of their month long stay in North Wales that has been organised by North Wales Coast Link of the Chernobyl Children Lifeline. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Starting at Police Headquarters in Colwyn Bay, from early morning on Thursday, July 7th officers got the youngsters pulse racing with an assault course in the gym. It was then time for the children, who are aged up to 13-year-old old, to meet two of the keenest noses in the force when they were introduced Axe and Molly from the dog section. In a day packed full of activities, the group then made their way over to St Asaph where they experienced the busy environment of the Joint Communications Centre and had a little time to take in a spot of lunch! ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

No visit is complete the force without a trip to forensics and this was the case for the group. As well as getting the chance to take their own finger and footprints, they also had the opportunity of donning overalls as worn daily by Crime Scene Investigators. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Speaking about the visit, Gerrie Bayley who is the chair of the Chernobyl Children Lifeline, North Wales Coast Link, said: “It was incredible, the best one yet, they pulled out all the stops.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Nothing was boring, everything was exciting for them. The highlight was meeting Axe the dog.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

NWP force trainer Emma Orme helped organise the visit and is herself hosting two of the children. Emma added: “The day was amazing and they seemed to have lots of fun.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

2016 marks 30 years since the Chernobyl disaster. For over the past 10 years the Chernobyl Children Lifeline North Wales Coast Link have been organising visits for young people who generally live in poor conditions. While in North Wales the children stay with families in the Rhyl, Prestatyn, Colwyn Bay and Llandudno areas and are taken to many different attractions. To date, the group have already been camping locally and are set to go to Greenwood Forest, Piggery Pottery, Chester Zoo and the Copper Mines. While here they also visit an Optician and Dentist for check- ups and receive any treatment they need before returning home. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The month long visit has a long lasting impact on the health of the children and their outlook on life. It’s believed that the stay strengthens the childrens’ weakened immune systems and can add years to their lives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​