Schoolchildren will be learning to deal with emergency situations thanks to a new initiative set up by the police and Castle Point Council.

Police officers will be teaching young people how to stay safe in today's world.

This will include carrying out controlled situations covering what to do if they are offered drugs, how to administer first aid and what to do in a fire.

PC Beryl Fennell, of Rayleigh police, has been carrying out Crucial Crew sessions for youngsters in Rochford for the last four years.

She said: "The sessions are very worthwhile because there are certain things that you do not learn in school.

"We encourage the children to do the right thing, which in the case of a fire is get out, get the fire brigade and stay out. We want to discourage children from running into burning buildings to save a cat.

"We teach them that their safety is the most important thing."

The youngsters even get a chance to be witnesses at a crime scene and to answer the type of questions police would ask real witnesses to a crime.

Inspector Ian Kennedy, of Hadleigh police, will be in charge of the first Crucial Crew Initiative in Castle Point since 1993, which will start next year.

He said: "We still need to finalise some of the details but I am very much looking forward to the venture and the plans are well under way to start next year.

"We are just waiting to sort out all the literature which we will then pass on to the council to get approved."

Director of leisure at Castle Point Council Steve Packham said: "It is a brave initiative and we are happy to host it."

Councillors have voted in favour of the police being allowed to use rooms at The Paddocks Community Centre in Long Road, Canvey.

Headteacher of Castle View School, Meppel Avenue, Canvey, Russell Sullivan said: "It is a very worthwhile initiative. There are certain things that are difficult to teach children solely in the classroom and this initiative seems to cover certain life skills that are ideally taught by the police."

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