POLICE have turned playwrights to tread the boards in three mini dramas to spread the word about tackling crime.

Officers and Pcsos from the Barton Neighbourhood Team will take centre stage in July when they visit two primary schools in their area to act out scenarios to help educate local children.

Police hope youngsters will remember what to do if they encounter problems with anti-social behaviour, bullying and cyber safety over the summer holidays.

Pc Chloe Sutton, who has written the scripts, said: “I thought it would be a really good idea before they break up for them to get to know their local police.

“Whenever we speak to them in the street, a lot of them tell us stories of similar incidents and they ask our opinion on a lot of things.

“They want to know what we wear and what kit we carry and where our handcuffs are.

“We will be acting out scenarios and they will watch and hopefully remember them.”

The three mini plays will be showcased at Bayards Hill Primary School in Waynflete Road, and Sandhills Primary in Terrett Avenue, in July. If they prove successful, police hope to take them to new schools.

In the antisocial behaviour drama, two PCSOs will act as children who kick a ball into an old woman and, in the cyber bullying sketch, the youngsters will learn about risks of meeting people online and how to stay safe.

Pc Sutton said: “We want to send the message out that Facebook is a great tool to us but you don’t know who you are speaking to on the other end.”

During the final drama on bullying, two Pcsos will pose as children and try to steal a young boy’s bike to send out the message that bullying is wrong.

She added: “The children will get to meet the team and we will build up a bit of a better relationship with them. Hopefully they will remember us during the summer.

“I’m going to get the team rehearsing in the next few weeks.”

Keith Ponsford, headteacher of Bayards Hill Primary School, said: “Children need this sort of guidance and leadership on how to behave, and the effect of their actions, and this is a good way of passing on that message.

“Drama is a very direct and forceful means of communicating.”