CHILDREN from a school near Tenbury have been visited by the long arm of the law.

Bayton Church of England Primary School pupils were on their best behaviour when a police officer and a magistrate attended their class for the afternoon.

Bethany Fernihough, who teaches the class, invited the legal duo into meet the children as they had spent the term studying the children’s chosen project of ‘Crime and Punishment’.

Cliff Slade, a magistrate for 15 years at Worcester and Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court, talked and took questions on the role of the magistrate and PC Max Beswick brought in his police equipment for the children to talk about as well as discussing his role as a police officer.

Their work of the children included a comprehensive wall display of pastel court paintings in the style of Pricilla Coleman.

Victorian era punishments were explored such as children being sent to prison as well as witches punished by ducking right up to today’s police investigations with the children making e-fits and fingerprints.

Court role-play and mock trials were also enacted in the classroom.