A seven-year-old girl has won Lancashire Constabulary’s Christmas card competition.
Not only has Phoebe’s design won her £150 of books for Our Lady & St Edwards Catholic Primary School in Preston, but it will feature on the chief constable’s Christmas e-card, sent to more than 5,000 officers and staff at Lancashire Constabulary and its partner agencies.
Primary school children across the county were asked to design a police-themed Christmas image in a template of a Christmas bauble with a selection printed and hung on the tree in headquarters reception.
Chief constable Sacha Hatchett, said: “I’d like to thank every single of the 1,274 children that has taken the time to enter our competition this year. We have been blown away by the response and I’m really impressed by the talent and creativity the young people throughout the county have.
“Policing is so much more than catching the baddies. It is also about engaging with public to build trust and confidence and it is a pleasure to be involved with something positive with the children in our community. This year we have been able to have more winners, support more schools and create an experience that hopefully will have a lasting impression.
“It is a great pleasure to be able to pick a winner, meet them in person and to see some of the entries hanging on our Christmas tree at headquarters is really special.”
A representative from Our Lady & St Edward’s Catholic Primary School said: “Phoebe was really excited to discover she was the chief constable’s Winner! She is really proud of herself, as are we at school! We are looking forward to spending the book voucher and adding some new books into our school library! Well done, Phoebe!”
Police and crime commissioner, Clive Grunshaw, supported the competition this year which allowed for a second winner to be chosen. The Commissioner selected Amira (9) as his winner whose design has been featured on his Christmas e-card sent to MPs and stakeholders across the county. She too won £150 for books for St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School in Preston.
Police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw said: “I was really impressed with the quantity and quality of entries, a huge thank you to all the young artists who took part and made it very difficult for us to pick a winner.
“Congratulations to Amira whose beautiful design has now been shared on social media and sent to our partners and stakeholders on behalf of my Office to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.”
There were also two runner ups selected. These were Ava (6) chosen by the chief constable and Willow (8) by the commissioner.
All winners were invited to a prizegiving event at Hutton HQ where they met the judges. After the presentation, PC David gave a demonstration with police dogs, Bane and Clodagh, and the children also had the opportunity to wear hats, sit in cars and flash the lights.
