From the 16th - 18th of June, 30 sixth year students from Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne areas participated in three days of work experience facilitated by the PSNI's Community Planning and Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPT) across Mid and East Antrim.

This opportunity offered school pupils from across the District, a valuable chance to gain real-world insights into policing, the importance of providing public service and overall community engagement.

During the three days the students had the opportunity to see what frontline policing is like, and also hear from a range of departments within the PSNI including, Cyber Support, Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Air Support , Dog Handlers, First Aid trainers, Personal Safety Programme (PSP) trainers.

Superintendent Gerry McGrath, Chief Inspector Rory Bradley and Chief Inspector Chris Tate from Mid and East Antrim' Senior Management Team (SMT) in District, were also involved in the opportunity, providing pupils with great stories and experiences.

Chief Inspector Chris Tate said: “Local officers were delighted to welcome students for three days of work experience, and by spending time with teams from across the service, students got to explore the various aspects of law enforcement, including crime prevention, investigations, community outreach and the challenges officers face on a daily basis.

“For our local pupils considering a future in criminal justice, law or public safety, such experience can be instrumental in shaping career aspirations. It also helps develop transferable skills like communication, teamwork, problem solving and resilience, all of which are vital in any profession, but very important in the world of policing.

“Importantly, engagement with police encourages positive relationships between young people and the police, promoting mutual trust and understanding within communities – we are humans at the end of the day, we just so happen to be in uniform most of the time.

“In areas where tensions may exist, this connection is particularly significant, helping to break down barriers and support long-term peace-building efforts. Ultimately, work experience with the PSNI not only benefits individual pupils but also contributes to a more informed, responsible and engaged generation. It’s an investment in both personal development and the broader goal of building safer, more cohesive communities in Northern Ireland. 

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those pupils who took part in our work experience and enriching our working day. I look forward to working with them in future."

The feedback from the students was also very encouraging and these are just some of the positive concluding comments:

“Talking with the officers positively changed my view of the police.”

“I found that being a police officer is much more than what people think it is, a lot happens behind the scenes than I ever thought it did.”

“This work experience has strengthened my desire to join the police.”

For more information on work experience opportunities within your local policing area when the new term begins in September, contact your MEA policing team on 101.