IT is not every day you receive an opportunity to handle high-performance weapons with police backing.
Students at Hopwood Hall College got the chance to look down the barrel of high calibre guns without any attached danger.
Leah Johnson, 17, who studies a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Public Services, was part of a group offered careers advice and guidance by firearms officers from team SO2, part of the force-wide special operations unit.
They were given the chance to view and handle some of the specialist equipment used in modern policing.
It included: firearms, a ballistic bag, method of entry equipment, ballistic shields, body armour, emergency medical equipment and a trauma bag/defibrillator.
Officers also held a question and answer session with the students to give the next generation of fire, police and military personnel the best guidance on how to further themselves in these careers.
“Being able to speak to professionals already working in this industry has been great,” said Leah.
“It’s been helpful to hear first-hand what we have to do to be a success in this field.
“It was also really encouraging to see a female police officer being a positive role model for me and my fellow female students.”