Nautical but nice at the harbour
Photographer Frank Reid took a stroll round Sunderland Harbour, where he met folk getting their lockdown exercise.
Young pupils at a primary school have created their own impressive fleet of police vehicles, and learned some important road safety lessons in the process.
The group of budding cops from George Washington Primary School were working on a project about transport while homeschooling.
Hoping to inspire the youngsters, reception class teacher Stephanie Conner got in touch to see whether Northumbria Police officers could assist the virtual learning by sharing some pictures of the inside of a police car.
ButPcBenWaiteswentone better, recording an engaging four-minute video for the pupils teaching them all about the cars – including how officers use sirens to keep people safe and alley lights which assist in searching for suspects.
Itwasthenfullspeedahead as the eager youngsters made their own impressive homemade car models which included some innovative ideas – from grabber hands to help officers catch baddies to invisibility mode.
“We know it’s been a really difficult year for everyone across the North East and beyond, especially for many of our teachers and parents who are homeschooling to help prevent the spread of this deadly virus,” said Pc Waites.
“So when I heard about Miss Conner getting in touch, I thought it would be good to help bring the kids’ learning to life with a video.
“Hopefully they found it entertaining, with a few important lessons in there about road safety, keeping their bedrooms tidy and wearing seatbelts.
“It was brilliant to then see the children build their own fleet of police cars – amazing work, everyone.”
Stephanie Conner added: “I’d like to thank Pc Waites and everyone involved who helped make a really great video to assist our children’s learning.
“They absolutely loved finding out more about police cars and how officers use them to keep people safe.
“It really captured their imagination.
"I’msurewehaveanumber of budding cops who want to follow in Pc Waites’ footsteps in our class!”
Now the force is challenging other children to get busy making their own police cars and send in your pictures to media@northumbria.pnn. police.uk.
The best pictures will be highlighted on the force’s FacebookandTwitterpagesnext week.
A Sunderland woman was caught by police after she fled from a car stolen from a South Tyneside garage in an early hours raid.
Toni Peel, 31, of Ribble Road, Hylton Red House, Sunderland, jumped from the Fiat Punto after officers gave chase and it stopped – and was held nearby.
It was one of two cars taken from Station Garage, in Station Approach, East Boldon, at about 4am on June 16, a court heard.
Police were contacted by the outlet’s manager after he received a mobile phone security alert that the double raid was ongoing.
Minutes later, they spotted the stolen Punto zoom past on the A1018 Newcastle Road, near Fulwell – and set off in pursuit, magistrates in South Tyneside were told.
Prosecutor Leanne Duffy said: “At 4.02am, the witness received an alert on his mobile phone of an alarm going off.
“He checked CCTV and found that two vehicles had been stolen from the garage. One a Fiat Punto, the other was a Ford Fiesta.
“At 4.32am, officers were on the A1018 when one of the stolen vehicles drives past at speed.
“They set off in pursuit and the vehicle failed to stop. When it did, the defendant was a passenger and ran.
“The police gave chase,
and she was detained and arrested.”
Peel was not in court but
pleaded guilty to being carried in a stolen vehicle via her solicitor Paul McAlindon.
The driver was also held but not charged, and the court did not hear about the status of the second stolen vehicle.
Defending, Mr McAlindon said: “Importantly, she’s a young lady without any convictions, though she has some cautions.
“The vehicles were not taken by Ms Peel. Police come upon one of the vehicles. She tells me that she was picked up after the event, and not long after that the police come.
“CCTV clearly shows that there’s only one person there and that wasn’t Ms Peel. It was a very stupid thing for her to do, she got into a car without knowing its origins.”
Magistrates fined Peel £80 and she must pay £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.