REDDITCH students were among 25 youngsters that descended on Baxter College in Kidderminster on Friday (November 20) as part of North Worcestershire’s Takeover Day.
Pupils from Trinity High School and Arrow Vale Academy joined students from Stourport High School and Wolverley High School in a missing person investigation led by Inspector Edd Williams and PC Neil Sharpe.
The youngsters learnt a 15-year-old girl had been reported missing and throughout the day were told that her iPad had been discovered and that she had been in a relationship with an older man.
The students were encouraged to think about a range of possibilities about where she may have gone and were encouraged to use their decision making skills as more information was fed to them.
They had to decide what resources to deploy from the safer neighbourhood teams to patrol officers, dog sections to air unit and how to use the media to help in the search.
As part of the day, they also took part in a mock press conference dealing with questions from a local newspaper reporter.
The day concluded with the missing girl being found safe and well.
Inspector Edd Williams said: “I have been really impressed by the maturity and thoughtfulness of the students when investigating this incident.
“We used scenarios that we have faced as police officers and challenged the way the students thought in a day designed to encourage students to consider the different scenarios that are possible when trying to find missing people.
“I would like to say a huge well done to all who participated.”
