Bognor boy with rare heart condition becomes PC Danny for the day

Danny Herbert and his sister Sky meeting the police dog unit. Sussex Police pictures

A young boy from Bognor Regis got to fulfil a dream when he became Sussex Police's newest and youngest recruit.

Seven-year-old Danny Herbert has always wanted to be a policeman and he was determined not to let his terminal heart condition get in the way of making that a reality.

Joined by his sister Sky, six, and mum Fran, Danny got to ‘make an arrest’ at Chichester Police Station and hold a speed gun before meeting chief constable Giles York at the Sussex Police headquarters.

Chief Inspector Marc Clothier of the Arun district said: “When I was contacted by the Make a Wish charity about Danny, I was really keen to make his dream of becoming a police officer a reality.

Danny meeting chief constable Giles Yorke

“The support and enthusiasm shown by colleagues across the force was amazing and we all really tried to make the day as special as possible.

“Danny had the opportunity to join one of the roads policing units and undertook speed checks in Bognor Regis.

“We knew Danny had always wanted to hold a speed gun, so it was fantastic for us to allow this to happen.”

Young Danny has pulmonary atresia – an extremely rare birth defect involving the heart and lungs.