Inspirational young people visit HQ for behind-the-scenes tour

Inspirational young people who were recognised at an awards evening for overcoming adversity and contributing to their communities have been given a behind-the-scenes tour at Nottinghamshire Police’s headquarters.

A total of 12 winners and runners-up who were honoured at the Live Our Best Life Awards in April were invited to meet some of the inspirational officers, staff, and departments as part of their prize.

The day began with a visit to the roads policing unit where officers who promote road safety and respond to traffic collisions introduced the visitors to a range of police vehicles.

They had the opportunity to deploy a tyre-piercing Stinger device across the courtyard, sit inside police cars, operate the sirens and horns, and have a go at using a radar speed gun.

This was followed by a session with the armed response unit, where the group got to try on body armour, helmets, and ballistic shields.

The next stop was the force control room where they got see real 999 calls being answered and received a talk from call handlers and dispatchers about their roles.

Chief Constable Kate Meynell and Prevention Hub lead Superintendent Heather Maelor joined the group for lunch, with the young people taking the opportunity to speak with the force’s most senior officer about their experiences, achievements and issues affecting them.

They finished the afternoon being shown around the dog unit kennels, where specialist animals are trained to tackle offenders and sniff out drugs, weapons, cash, and electronics concealed by criminals.

The highlight of the day included a demonstration from PD Loki, who leapt from a response car to take down one of the dog unit handlers who was armed with a prop bat and wearing a bite jacket.

Nottinghamshire Police’s Prevention Hub, which organises the awards scheme, recognises the achievements of young people aged between eight and 18 across the county who have shown resilience, selflessness or have done something inspirational in the last year.

Runners-up Thomas Wilkinson, Olivia Allsop, Jack Ethan Marshall joined winners Lydia Yates and Freya Ricketts with their families for the special tour around joint Police and Fire Headquarters on August 14.

Freya volunteers her free time to help survivors of child exploitation and domestic abuse, dedicating her efforts to those who do not have a voice.

The 17-year-old fundraises for the Imara Participation Group, a specialist charity, for which she was awarded the Young Inspiration Award.

Lydia dedicates countless hours to teaching dance classes for children and is involved with youth politics.

The 17-year-old was invited to parliament by an MP and wants to inspire change for future generations, for which she was awarded the Young Leader of the Year Award.

The visit was well-received by the group of young people who all said they really enjoyed the afternoon, with some even expressing an interest in a career in policing.

The awards will return in 2025 with details on how to submit a nomination to follow later this year.

Inspector Paul Peatfield, Nottinghamshire Police’s Prevention Hub lead for Citizens in Policing, which includes the youth outreach team, said: “Providing opportunities for young people across Nottinghamshire is very important for building trust and confidence.

“Experiences like this that invite young people to engage with police officers at headquarters helps them to learn more about policing and feel comfortable to approach officers with their concerns.

“The citizens in policing department is dedicated to running a series of programmes to help enrich the lives of young people and equip them with life skills.

“I’m pleased to hear that our guests enjoyed their visit, which went down a treat with adults and young people alike, and I look forward to the awards returning in 2025.”