Cumbria Police officers are appealing to the Cumbrian knitting community for their help comforting children who find themselves in traumatic or upsetting circumstances.
Officers are asking people, as part of their hobby, if they could create teddy bears which will be then kept in police vehicles to help comfort a child in circumstances such as a serious or fatal road traffic collision or any other incident which could leave a child in distress.
Inspector Laura Boyd of Cumbria Constabulary said: “These ‘Bobby Buddies’ will be extremely helpful and a practical assistance for our officers as they seek to comfort children experiencing upsetting circumstances.
“Sadly, the nature of policing means our officers do attend incidents which are very traumatic for children – from a family argument to a road traffic collision or the search for a missing person.
“Our officers will be able to turn to these teddies to help build trust and a relationship with young children and to help take their minds off what is going on around them.”
Other forces including Greater Manchester Police and Devon Police have already launched similar projects in their community and have seen positive results. In Cumbria, the project will first be trialled in North Cumbria. If it proves successful and a high number of teddies are received, it could then be rolled out across the county.
Cumbria Police have already linked in with Cruc and Craft of Penrith who have supplied two dozen teddies which officers can begin using and Soroptimist International Carlisle who have been a great help, assisting with the pattern and the making of the bears.
A knitting pattern for the ‘Bobby Buddies’ is available for people to download so they can follow the plan to create their own. People can then hand in their completed teddies into Durranhill Police Station in Carlisle or Hunter Lane in Penrith.
Inspector Boyd said: “It’s my hope that people will see the benefit of our ‘Bobby Buddies’ and look to create one of their own to donate.
“It is a small gesture but I can promise people that their work will have a genuinely positive impact on a young child who could be enduring a terrible experience through no fault of their own.
“I’d encourage anyone interested in putting a smile on the face of a young child to give it a go.”
Cumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McCall said: “I think this is a great idea, a simple yet effective way to make a real difference and provide some comfort for a distressed child. I really hope the scheme takes off, and urge the knitters out there to get involved.”
Any completed Bobby Buddies can be dropped off at any police station in Cumbria.
