relations with young people.

Chief Insp. Gertrude Barker of the Police Community Relations Department told The Royal Gazette the programme was set to begin next month.

She said officers will visit schools to teach students about being safe in the community.

The officers will also help out at special events such as sports day activities.

"Our object is to ensure that the kids feel comfortable with the Police,'' she stressed. "They will grow up with an officer, and by the time they are older we may be able to change the negative feelings attached to Police.'' P.c. Nigel Richardson, a programme instructor, added that the programme would be known as Resistance, Education, Community, Help or REACH.

"We will have a set curriculum for each semester,'' P.c. Richardson said, "and there will be four constables and one Sergeant to teach it.'' He said the students would learn marine, traffic and other basic Police safety measures.

"We want to get across that Police are there to help,'' P.c. Richardson added. "We want to bridge the gap between the Police and the public. We're often seen as tyrants.'' He said the primary and high schools would be divided into zones, with a Police instructor assigned to each area.

"At any given time of the day we will be teaching a lesson at some school,'' P.c. Richardson said. "All the schools will get the same lessons so there would be no conflict in the information received by the students.'' He added that the students would also receive pamphlets and "tidbits'' during the lesson.

The programme is scheduled to begin on September 3.