Youngsters got a taste of police action with a close-up view of a dramatic swoop on drug suspects.
Pupils dragged themselves out of bed at 3am to watch 250 officers blitz suspected dealers and users.
Police say the invitation, to pupils from Wright Robinson school in Gorton, was part of a bid to be ‘more transparent’.
Chief Supt Ross Jackson said: “If their friends are dissing the police on Facebook then maybe they can say this is why we are doing what we are doing.”
Year nine pupil Jordan Brennan, 13, from Gorton, witnessed the operation from the GMP control room.
He said: “It was really good and worth getting up early for. We got to see the cells and what goes on with people dealing drugs. One was dealing from a bike and it’s disgraceful behaviour. I enjoyed it and I learnt a lot of stuff that I didn’t know.” Moss Side peace campaigner Erinma Bell was also invited to witness the raids – along with residents and councillors from the areas targeted.
Erinma said: “I get a lot of people telling me the police have knocked down doors for no reason so it’s good to be able to go back to them and tell them why it’s happened.” Chief Supt Jackson added: “We’ve had kids here on work experience and it’s really to show them the good work we do.
“It’s for them to come and be inspired. Maybe one of them will become a police officer and that would be a great story.
“It’s also good to get councillors and locals in and create some community advocates.”
The raids took place in Gorton, Withington, Levenshulme, Old Trafford, Moston and Ashton-Under-Lyne and led to 15 arrests. They came after a similar operation in December which resulted in 20 people being charged.
Jordan, who should have been studying science, catering and PE as the raids unfolded, said watching the operation was ‘brilliant’ – but he hasn’t been convinced to follow a crime-fighting career.
He said: “It was good – but I still want to be a plumber.”
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"Jordan, who should have been studying science, catering and PE as the raids unfolded"
He studies at 3am?
I understand the importance of teaching children about society etc, but should this not have been viewed later in the day? everyone is banging on about the importance of sleep especially in teenage children, and how a lack of it can seriously effect their concentration.
It was bad enough being knocked up out of bed early by police with a battering ram. Without them bringing a gang of kds to stare at me!
If the GMP is looking for a PR exercise this is not it.
How many truants are they responsible for today - Not a good example, just a gimmick thought up by some bright spark and approved by senior officers.
No doubt, that kid is dressed nicely for 3 am.
"It’s for them to come and be inspired. Maybe one of them will become a police officer and that would be a great story."
And for them to be told - sorry - no jobs going here young scallywag - have you tried the NHS - you have - no jobs there either - ah well - what do you know about the liberal democrats - they might be recruiting soon????
surely they could have just played them an old episode of "police camera action" This has nothing to do with they WHY and all to do with yet more P.R.
how much money was wasted on this useless exercise? They should have spent on the youth club in Hulme thats about to close due to the cuts
Showing them nicking suspects who have yet to be convicted of anything is hardly an important lesson. I hope they hid the identities of the innocent until proven guilty suspects (difficult if live).
p.s. the kids "dissing" the police is nothing new
Ignoramus - Yet another inept reply, nothing to do with me? well I could indeed ask YOU Sir what my comment has to do with you? you just sound bitter to me?
"Physics student Michael, who watched the footage online was surprised to see his house being broken into and parents taken away for using a drug scientifically proven to be safer than alcohol and tobbaco."
As i've said before,some of the best, most memorable lessons happen outside of the classroom.Making learning a little more exciting can never be a bad thing.
tim h-
I don;t think any money was spent on the PR aspect of it as the M.E.N don't charge the police for covering the case- the raid would have gone ahead anyway and the only difference as the presence of some kids- I fail to see where money comes into this.
Also - people arrested on the suspicion of crime have no legal right to anonymity. They can be named, filmed, photographed provided it's clear they haven't been convicted- hence the regular coverage of ongoing trials!
Why do the police feel they need to be more transparent to a bunch of nine year olds? And MEN, how about next week telling us who was arrested and for what? I am guessing there were more than a few who were caught in possession of cannabis and got a caution. Waste of time and money.