Last year, a pilot took place in Vlaardingen. Thirteen young people started as police scouts. Since this pilot was a success for both the youth and the police colleagues, we will start this school year in addition to the Waterweg basic team (Vlaardingen), also in the Nissewaard basic team (Spijkenisse) and the Maas-Rotte basic team (Rotterdam). In total, 28 young people will be sworn in as police scouts in the coming time.
The nine young people from Spijkenisse will meet every Wednesday evening at the police station this school year to get to know the work of the police. In a special police scout uniform, they will learn what the job of a police officer entails. They will receive various types of lessons, such as lessons on police duties, laws and regulations, communication techniques, and sports. Additionally, the youth will visit other police teams with the guidance of colleagues and go out on the streets in their uniforms to contribute to preventive police actions. This way, they develop important skills.
“All lessons are carefully prepared by enthusiastic police colleagues who are eager to pass on their knowledge and skills to the new generation. It supports our youth on their path to good citizenship. Perhaps we will see these police scouts back in a police uniform in a few years,” says Patrick Bastiaans, team leader of the Nissewaard basic team. “We wish them, in any case, a learning but especially fun year.”
