A primary school pupil from Bradford donned a police uniform and went on the beat with an officer.

The enthusiastic schoolgirl, Chloe McGuire, 11, said she was both “excited” and “proud” to go on patrol with PCSO Denis Bennett.

The unusual patrol was part of a partnership between West Yorkshire Police and Shirley Manor Primary School, in Wyke, in which pupils are taught about the consequences of crime.

PCSO Bennett helped to set up the ‘Marmalade Club’ at the school, encouraging children to talk about making the right decisions and to consider personal responsibility.

At the end of the week, each class votes for a fellow pupil who has shown positive attributes. The pupil with the most votes is then presented with a T-shirt.

PCSO Bennett, of Wyke Neighbourhood Policing Team, said they had now introduced a new aspect to their work.

He said: “At the end of the year, the children voted again for one of their classmates to come out on patrol with me.

“This forms part of their Citizenship work, but also enables us to break down any perceived barriers there may be and to engage with them from an early age.

“When I go into the school, all the children know who I am and that they can approach me or talk to me about any concerns they have.

“The Marmalade Club also gives me the opportunity to discuss life issues, such as bullying and also to highlight the consequences of our actions.

“Particularly as the children approach the age of responsibility, this really promotes personal qualities and also builds upon their confidence levels.

“The children who come out on patrol with me are given their own high-visibility police uniform to wear and see how the police work within their own community.”

Hannah Brown, a teacher at Shirley Manor, said: “It all started after PCSO Bennett came to speak to the children about how to behave properly keeping in mind respect, consequences and responsibility.

“While PCSO Bennett was talking to the children he joked that the only other long word he knew was marmalade and that just stuck.

“I then decided we would vote for a Marmalader of the week, someone who had all these qualities. Behaviour massively improved over the year and in the summer we had a marmalade graduation.

“We then voted for a Marmalader of the year where they got a prize and the opportunity to go out on patrol with PCSO Bennett.”

Chloe said: “I’m excited and glad I was chosen because I will feel so proud out walking with PCSO Denis.”