A Wilmslow High School student got the chance of a lifetime recently when she took over a high profile role within Cheshire Constabulary.
Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Phil Thompson offered to relinquish his position for the day to allow a teenager to 'take over' the post and take part in everyday duties that an ACC undertakes.
Forty budding bobbies applied for the chance but it was Lydia Vaughan, 16, who got the opportunity to step into the boots of ACC Thompson on Friday 12 November.
Lydia spent the day shadowing a whole manner of tasks from monitoring 999 calls to choosing equipment for firearms officers then towards the end of a gruelling day of decision making, a mock hostage situation was created so Lydia could see the skills involved in dealing with volatile and life threatening situations.
She then had the daunting task of facing a pack of journalists in a media conference. ACC Thompson said: "I was very impressed with the way Lydia dealt with the hostage-taker over the phone. And when she faced the journalists in the press conference she was asked some pretty tough questions, but she dealt with it incredibly well.
"Throughout the day Lydia showed remarkable maturity around decisions that affected people's safety and what we should prioritise. I found her down to earth application of common sense very refreshing – a reminder to us that we often know what is right but sometimes allow the complexities to get in the way. Lydia showed considerable potential and I wish her well for the future."
Lydia, from Wilmslow High School said of her day at Cheshire Police's Winsford headquarters: "It was amazing – I'm never going to forget it."
She added: "For a while I've wanted to be in the police force, this has reinforced the fact I want to be a part of it. There is so much opportunity and so many different things to do.
"It was really interesting. It gave me much more of an insight into the hard work that goes into being a police officer."
Photo: Staff Officer PC Danielle Jones, ACC Phil Thompson and Lydia Vaughan.
