The Isle of Wight Beacon – the Island's daily news sport and weather website

YOUNG CRIME FIGHTERS SHOWN THE SECRETS

Crime Scene Investigation, the dangers of fake firearms and how police search dogs work were among the subjects on the agenda for a group of young Islanders taking the service section of their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award in Policing. 

More than a dozen teenagers have been attending a 12-week course.  There were also visits to the police Marine Support Unit in Cowes and Netley’s police training headquarters, as well as a trip to Lee-on-Solent to see the Air Support Unit. 

Course leader PCSO David Kalcher, from the Sandown Safer Neighbourhoods Team, said:  "I saw their confidence build throughout the weeks.  I was impressed by the group’s enthusiasm and the amount of research that went into their final presentations…There are teenagers I met on the course who will stop and speak with me when they see me out on patrol, and this plays a huge role in supporting a strong relationship with the communities we serve.”