POLICE are joining forces with Oxfordshire County Council and Mothercare to promote the need for parents to use child car seats and booster seats since the law changed last year.

A child car seat safety initiative day is being held between 10.30am and 2pm today at Mothercare, Ambassador Way, Oxford Retail Park.

There will be a number of events, including:

  • Mothercare and Oxfordshire County Council Road Safety will give a free fitting service for all new child car/booster seats to ensure customers buy the right seat for their vehicle.
  • A prize of a free car seat will be presented to the winner of a child car seat safety poster competition held at local schools.
  • Bicycles and pushchairs can be security marked for free.
  • Safe Plates screws, which combat number plate theft, will be given out for free.

Thames Valley Police's Crime Reduction Team has organised the event and will be supported by Roads Policing officers and local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).

Angie Shuck, from the Oxford Crime Reduction Team, said: "It was a local PCSO who brought to my attention concerns about some parents not using the right car seat.

"Child car seat legislation changed on 18th September 2006 and there is still some confusion surrounding this. So, I am hoping parents will come along to the event, get expert advice on buying a child car seat from Mothercare, or advice on the correct use of an existing seat that they may already have from Road Safety, Oxfordshire County Council.

"This is an excellent opportunity for parents to make sure they are using the right equipment to keep their children safe before they find out the hard way."