ESOL students learn about community policing

City of Portsmouth College’s ESOL students – those for whom English is not their first language – have been learning all about UK policing, thanks to two members of Hampshire Constabulary.

Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) Chloe Watkins and Natalie Gibson-Ford visited Arundel Campus to help the students better understand the role of PCSOs, how policing works in the UK, and how they can access support if they need it.

The session forms part of COPC’s continued effort to build positive relationships between learners and local services, supporting students’ integration into the wider community.

PCSOs Watkins and Gibson-Ford spoke about safety, local policing priorities, and community support, and they took time to answer a wide range of student questions. In return the students organised a party for the officers, sharing food they’d prepared specially.

Gulsah Robertson, ESOL lecturer, said: “The students really enjoyed having Chloe and Natalie as their guests. They shared their food at the party they organised and were very surprised to find out how heavy PCSO uniforms were!”

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