Young people share with Sir Clive Loader their views on the future of policing
Young people from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland had their say on what policing should look like at the first meeting of the Police and Crime Commissioners Youth Commission.
The event, held at the Samworth Academy on Saturday June 22 was attended by a large group of young people who heard an opening from Police and Crime Commissioner Sir Clive Loader before the 25-strong commission got to work on looking at the key policing themes that were important to them.
Speaking after the event, Sir Clive said: “It was extremely powerful to see this group of young people come up with some thoughtful and challenging observations about their perceptions of crime and policing.
“The Youth Commission has an excellent spread of understanding and represents a real cross section of young people from all kinds of backgrounds. There are those who have experienced being victims of crime, there are those who live in neighbourhoods affected by crime and antisocial behaviour or who have family affected by criminality. However, the one thing they all have in common is a real sense of what policing means to them and where they think we should be focussing our crime priorities.
“It was a fantastically successful first meeting and I’m looking forward to seeing how their work develops and influences the Police and Crime plan going forward. I believe that listening to young people and then involving them in forming a solution is vital to repair the often difficult relationship between young people and the police.”
Between July and October, the ‘Big Conversation’ will ask 2,000 young people across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland for their views on what needs to be done to tackle crime and improve policing.
Under the guidance of a voluntary youth advisory group the project will form an on-going dialogue with Sir Clive aimed at supporting, challenging and informing his work. The final results will be published at the end of the year.
Sir Clive is working with a charity, the SHM Foundation, to deliver the project. Rose Dowling from SHM, which is using its experience to help PCCs and young people to work together, said:
“We are developing a model for a way of working which can be replicated in other places. PCCs are keen to learn from young people and be challenged by them. Young people want to be heard. We will help that happen.”
With training and support from the SHM Foundation, the new Youth Commission will be made up of a diverse cross-section of 14-25 year olds from Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Although they will be working within necessary guidelines designed to protect young people, each group will help to decide the shape of their own ‘Big Conversation’ and what issues they examine.
Sir Clive said:
“I am thrilled to be working with the SHM Foundation on this pioneering project. It’s important to remember that young people can play a very important part in crime prevention and early intervention is particularly crucial in preventing the waste of young lives. I am very keen to hear their thoughts on how the police and I can work better with young people to reduce crime and make our communities safer for everyone.”
To read more about the work that the SHM Foundation has been doing with young people and PCCs please go to www.forceforward.co.uk and www.shmfoundation.org.
Posted on Monday 9th May 2016