First 'Kids Court' Held in Ards and North Down to Tackle Speeding Outside Schools
Released: Tuesday 21 April 2026
A pioneering road safety initiative was delivered in Ards and North Down recently, when the Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) partnered with the PSNI and NI Road Policing Safety to host the first ever Kids Court at Clandeboye Primary School.
The innovative approach placed Primary 7 pupils at the centre of the justice process, after drivers were detected speeding near the school during the morning. Drivers were offered a choice: accept penalty points and a fine or attend Kids Court and appear before a panel of P7 pupils to explain their actions.
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The children of Clandeboye Primary School join the PSNI in encouraging safer road use around schools.
PCSP - Kids Court 1
During the sessions, pupils explained the real‑life consequences of speeding, particularly outside schools, and the risks faced by children as vulnerable road users. The initiative aimed to encourage drivers to reflect on their behaviour in a meaningful and restorative way.
Chair of Ards and North Down PCSP, Councillor Pete Wray, said,
"The Kids Court is a fantastic concept and it's something I am very supportive of.
We need to use every tool we can to get the message through to the public that they must slow down and take care on our roads. This is especially important in busy or built‑up areas, such as around schools.
Hearing directly from young people as potential victims will often have a greater impact than a fine or penalty points. I hope that those who met with the pupils as a result of their speeding will think twice before driving over the limit again.
Following the success of this event at Clandeboye Primary School, I hope to see the Kids Court rolled out across the Borough."
The pupils themselves described the experience as engaging and educational. One P7 pupil, Ellie, said:
"It was a very interactive morning. I hope all the adults caught were taught a lesson. I hope to be a police officer one day and help keep our roads safe."
P7 teacher Mrs Robinson also praised the initiative, saying:
"It was a great experience to have the PCSP and PSNI in the school this morning."
The Kids Court forms part of PCSP's ongoing commitment to improving road safety, reducing speeding, and promoting community‑based approaches that place education and prevention at the heart of enforcement.
