More than 40 hand‑knitted teddy bears have been generously donated to Wiltshire Police to help comfort children affected by crimes, accidents, and emergencies.

The bears, often referred to by officers as “trauma teddies” or “bobby buddies”, were lovingly created by Hazel Freeth, who wanted to ensure they reached children in genuine need rather than being sold for profit.

The donation was collected earlier this month by Wiltshire Police Cadets, who volunteered their own time to visit Hazel’s home in Swindon and safely transport the bears for onward distribution to frontline teams, including Roads Policing.

Hazel has been knitting since the age of four and estimates each teddy takes approximately a full day to make.

Hazel said, “I wanted them to bring comfort to children who need them, and this is what I had in mind when I was making them.”

The bears are designed to be given to children by officers at the scene of distressing incidents, helping to provide reassurance and emotional comfort during difficult moments.

The Cadets who took part in the collection, Max and Bethan, said the experience was incredibly rewarding. As a small gesture of thanks, they presented the knitter with flowers on behalf of the Cadets.

“It’s lovely to see the public supporting the welfare of others and understanding the impact these bears will have on children who may need them,” they said.

PCSO Lee Stenning, Cadet Lead for Swindon, praised both Hazel and the Cadets for their compassion and community spirit: “This is a wonderful example of community generosity. Hannah’s grandmother has poured so much care into each of these trauma teddies, and they will bring real comfort to children during very difficult moments.

“I’m incredibly proud of our Cadets, who gave their own time to collect the bears and say thank you. Stories like this show the compassion and values our Cadets represent.”