'Adopted cops' are in church's prayers

Before Christmas, members of St Mary's Church sent Ferndown police station a huge card naming each of the police officers who worked at the station, informing them of their formal adoption by the church and saying they were praying for them both as a corporation and individually.

The card, organised by church member Heather Wilson, was signed by each member of the congregation.

The Adopt A Cop scheme is a Christian Police Association project that aims to strengthen links between the police and the local community and to present to the churches the human face of the police service.

And over time there are proposals to roll out the scheme to other churches in the Ferndown area.

Church coordinator Derek Howshall said: "It's a mix of getting to know our police team, letting them know their efforts are appreciated and working together with community issues."

Mr Howshall said they had already made a start on getting to understand how policing worked after their men's group visited the police headquarters, and the women's group now wanted a similar visit.

Mr Howshall added: "We are going to do a prayer walk around Ferndown in February with the police.

"They will take our members to areas that are causing particular concerns at the moment, the places where the youths gather. It can be intimidating to residents walking through the precinct."

Mr Howshall said church members would talk to and pray for the young people, who could join in if they wished, and see if they could help.

Sergeant Neil Leat said Adopt A Cop was a scheme he had seen work at his former job in Leicestershire.

He said there had been a lot of interest in their giant card, which went up in their briefing room.

He added: "I want to have it framed and put up to demonstrate to people coming in to the police station that we are working with the community and that the community cares.

"Ultimately I would love all the police stations to get a card."