HUNDREDS of children from across Radcliffe were given valuable lessons by the police in a series of workshops.

PC Mark Livesey, Inspector Russ Magnall and senior prison officer Paul McGovern visited St. John’s Primary School, Gorsefield Primary, Cams Lane Primary and Radcliffe Hall Primary School with their Actions Have Consequences workshops.

The sessions informed pupils how their actions can affect them and their local community and the negative outcomes that could occur.

Topics covered in the sessions were aimed to familiarise the children with numerous dangers but also with their local police force.

PC Livesey said: “As well as advice and input on all sorts of behaviour like drugs, online harassment and bullying, it is important that kids get to know who their local officers are for their area so they don’t feel afraid and they now they can approach us.

“These workshops are the perfect opportunity for them to see us in this environment and to understand that we are here to help them.”

Subjects also included nuisance 999 calls, bullying, anti-social behaviour, stranger danger and internet safety as well and although the workshops carried a serious message, they were structured to be fun, informative and engaging.

“The general feedback from all the schools this week has been fantastic,” PC Livesey said.

“I don’t think they knew how interactive it was going to be which is good because it shocks the kids a little bit but then they get back to learning.

“The message I would give to children who see or hear any of the things that they have been shown is to contact the police immediately.

“I think it’s important for parents too to show police in a good light so that their children are not scared of us and feel they can approach us."

Since its inception in 2009, the Actions Have Consequences workshops have been attended by over 350,000 pupils across several boroughs of Greater Manchester.

Senior prison officer Paul McGovern, who performed the workshop to around 1,000 pupils in Radcliffe in the last week, said: “These types of hands on sessions benefit the children because it shows them that they can approach the police at any time.

“Common perceptions that parents give them is that if you don’t behave yourself then the police will take you away, and that is not the perception that they should have.

Anna-Claire Withey, acting headteacher at St John’s Primary School, who welcomed the team on Friday, said: I would definitely recommend these workshops to other schools.

“Paul McGovern has been delivering key messages to our pupils on important issues through the workshops on stranger danger, anti-bullying, substance misuse and anti-social behaviour.

“Staff and children have thoroughly enjoyed the eye opening sessions that will hopefully encourage children to choose the right actions in the future.”