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Cop swap cards aim to improve community engagement

Press Releases

Published: 02/10/2009

The launch of Cop Swap cards across western Hampshire aims to improve community engagement and to make police officers more approachable, especially to children.  

The cards have been issued to all Safer Neighbourhoods officers in the Western Operational Command Unit (OCU) that covers the three local authority areas of Eastleigh and Test Valley Borough Councils and the New Forest District Council.    

They are similar to Top Trump cards and carry the police officer’s photo, collar number, top tip, their most enjoyable role and some light-hearted skills sets that includes: ‘Pedal Power’, ‘Problem Solving’, ‘Agility’ and ‘Strength’.   

The cards also contain officer contact details. In addition to each of the Safer Neighbourhoods officers cards, there are three ‘bonus’ cards to collect depicting the Force Marine, Air and Dog Support Units.  Each officer has a very small number of these ‘bonus’ cards which are used meritoriously.  

The cards are colour coded to represent the 16 neighbourhoods across the Western Operational Command Unit and there are a total of 143 cards to collect to complete the full set.  

Safer Neighbourhoods officers have been handing their cards out since mid-September and have been surprised at how popular they are.  New Forest North Safer Neighbourhoods officer PCSO Lisa Quinn, who patrols Lyndhurst and Ashurst and neighbouring villages said: “I have been quite surprised at how popular the cards have been.  After handing out a few while on a school visit, I was amazed to find that other children were actually coming up to me and asking for my card.  I have even had mothers and their children waving at me and shouting out my name as they drive past.  I think the cards are great and a good way for us to engage with all members of our communities and not just children.”  

Western OCU Commander, Chief Superintendent Richard Rowland said: “We launched these cards a couple of years ago in Portsmouth and found that they were an effective means of engagement with young people and helped increase awareness of and raise the profile of our SNT officers within their respective neighbourhoods.  The cards also help us to fulfil many of the obligations we aim to deliver as part of the Policing Pledge.”   To start collecting the cards, any child or even their parents, are encouraged to stop a Safer Neighbourhoods officer and ask for a card as they always carry quantities with them while out on patrol.

 

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