Police in Fife are embracing a scheme to help youngsters caught up in distressing situations by giving them special bear hugs.
The Trauma Teddies scheme started in Australia when the fire service handed out knitted toys to children seeking reassurance during and after distressing incidents.
#TraumaTeddiesAppeal – Traum Teddies are coming to #Cowdenbeath, but we need your help!
Watch our #FifePoliceTV appeal with Constable Primeau who will explain all.
You can donate Trauma Teddies to any @FifePolice Police Station.
Knitting Pattern Link: https://t.co/TeLHqP8TBc pic.twitter.com/B3oF72nMyA
— Cowdenbeath Police (@CowdenbeathPol) July 18, 2018
The idea sparked the imagination of knitters across the globe hoping to help a child in need and other law enforcement bodies took it on.
While Trauma Teddies schemes have been running in England and in Wales, police across Tayside were the first to adopt the project in Scotland.
Fife has now followed suit and officers in the local force have been overwhelmed by the positive reaction.
Sergeant Chris Mutter, from the communications and community partnerships department, revealed there had been 40,000 views of the scheme on social media in the first 24 hours.
That number, after a week, is now at 72,000.
“It’s probably the best response in the first 24 hours,” he said.
“The support and feedback has been overwhelming.”
So far more than 100 of the little teds have been handed in as crafty people across the kingdom knit one, purl one, to help bring comfort to a child who has been caught up in some kind of frightening incident.
#TraumaTeddies kindly knitted and handed into @SWFifePolice can't be wrong. If you can 'bear' to give us 5 minutes please go to https://t.co/w9oUOQXdbQ & have a say in how YOUR area is policed #YourViewCounts pic.twitter.com/fVzteIdnkg
— South West Fife Police (@SWFifePolice) July 24, 2018
They could be handed a teddy, for example, following a road accident, or if police are called to a domestic situation.
The purpose behind the scheme is about reaching out to little ones, and build rapport between children and the police.
It is an initiative between Police Scotland and the Children 1st charity.
Its director of children and families services, Linda Jardine, has said it was hoped the teddy bears will play a part in helping in the recovery of any child who has been involved in a distressing situation.
Patterns and instructions are online but for those not able to access them, printed instructions are available at Fife police stations as well.
Completed teddies can also be handed in to stations.
