2:12pm Thursday 20th December 2007
By Elinor Cross
POLICE capes flew back into action as officers wore them to escort school children through the city centre.
Officers PC Richard Thomas and PC Simon Jenkins wore the capes to to help walk 150 Pillgwenlly Junior school children to City cinema on Bridge Street.
The trip is an annual funday treat paid for by the Newport Lions Club.
PC Thomas said: "It was a bit of Christmas fun for the schoolchildren, but we had lots of positive comments from lots of people we passed."
The police capes, last issued 20 years ago, proved popular with the older generation. PC Thomas said: "Many older people in the city centre told us it was nice to see officers wearing capes."
President of the Newport Lions club, Geoffrey Stevens said: "The children thoroughly enjoyed their trip and it was a nice touch for the police schools officers to wear their old capes."
PC Jenkins added: "The capes certainly got people talking - and they kept us warm while walking on a very cold day."
Despite the popularity of the capes, the force have no current plans to bring them back as standard issue.
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