Police Community Relations Service Inspector Beverly Hopkins played Santa on Christmas Eve and presented a large red bag brimming with toys to The Family Learning Centre's executive director Martha Dismont.

Ms Dismont called the toys "a symbol of being in touch with children'' who were high risk victims of abuse. The Centre will use them to create a relaxed atmosphere when it deals with victims.

The Centre's clinical director Leonard Astwood said the toys, which included board games, "encourage children to talk to the centre in a more relaxed atmosphere...''.

"You just can't sit down and talk to children like adults and the toys get them to ask (the children) questions about what they want, such as skills and careers,'' Mr. Astwood said.

Also on hand for the gift giving were P.C. Fawn Wade, P.C. Mark Norman, P.C.

Grant Tompkins, and P.c. Rodney Trott.

P.C. Tompkins and P.c. Trott work in the Police's Resistance, Education And Community Help (REACH) programme -- a section of the Police Community Relations Service.

They were, in turn, presented with a children's bicycle from Ms Dismont who said the gift would help "support a needy family'' and strengthen networking between the two groups and benefit children.

The Family Learning Centre networks with REACH to work with children of a similar age to help them deal with conflict resolution and anger management.

The mission of the Centre is to strengthen children and their families through prevention, education and counselling services in partnership with parents and the community.

REACH actually works from a different perspective to the Centre but, according to Ms Dismont, working with REACH was a "natural fit as they work together to work with the children''.

Police play Santa: Members of the Bermuda Police Service recently gave toys and games to the Family Learning Centre (FLC) for children at risk of abuse.

From left to right are P.C. Fawn Wade, P.C. Rodney Trott, Insp. Beverly Hopkins, FLC Executive Director Martha Dismont, P.C. Grant Tomkins, P.C. Mark Norman and FLC Clinical Director Leonard Astwood.