Stroud’s streets were not only safer but cuter this weekend when a little girl joined police officers on patrol.
Ever-vigilant officer Caitlin Smith, aged eight, tried out her dream job when she toured Stroud town centre shoulder-to-shoulder with PSCO Bev Owen and PC Graham Smith on Saturday, June 16.
Marching past shoppers, Caitlin kept watch over Stroud in full police gear, hat upon head, tie round neck and - of course - handcuffs at the ready.
Caitlin out on patrol on Stroud High Street. Photography by Simon Pizzey
“You look awesome,” exclaimed an impressed PCSO Owen as she greeted her new colleague for the day at the station, “you look very smart!”
Caitlin’s dreams came true thanks to a letter, coming up with the idea to write in while sitting in her garden in Cashes Green with mum Shelley.
“To Stroud Police station,” Caitlin wrote.
“My dream job is to be a police lady because I love playing and I arrest my family.”
“What is your favourite thing in the police and why?’
The letter that landed Caitlin the dream job for the day
She asked if she could come look round the station, adding: “I would love to meet you all - lots of love, Caitlin.”
To her and her family’s amazement, they got a reply, and Stroud Police said they would be delighted to have another pair of boots on the ground.
“We couldn’t believe it when they wrote back - this morning we’ve been up since seven!” said Shelley as she proudly watched Caitlin on patrol.
Caitlin is dead set on a job with the police when she grows up.
“She’s just so passionate about the idea," explained Shelley.
This passion was energised when Caitlin, who hates to miss an episode of The Bill on TV, attended a police open day in Quedgeley in September.
With the chance to explore all the stalls, which curated each police section and the work they do in the community, Caitlin soon knew where she was headed.
Caitlin was more than equipped for the job
After assessing the high street, PSCO Owen and PC Smith showed Caitlin round the station, giving her a glimpse of the interview room.
The whole day was a dream come true for Caitlin.
“I liked it because I got to go out with the officers. I’ve never done that before. It was really good fun, and I got to see people take photos of me,” she told the SNJ.
So, what next for Stroud’s future police chief?
According to a thrilled PCSO Owen, who works on community outreach projects, the next step for Caitlin is joining Police Cadets when she turns 13.
Kaitlyn’s dad was in the Cadets growing up, though he is not in the force now.
A well-deserved break
There, she will get the chance to learn about all the difference roles in the force - Caitlyn loves horses so the police’s mounted section may have a new rider on their hands
Of course, mum Shelley is not without some fear.
“It’d be a great career for her, but it’s also a bit scary as a mum.”
If she does go on to apply for a job with the force, Caitlyn should be sure to give her brothers as references.
“They say: she’d be great at it because she’s so bossy,” said Shelley.
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