Young person's Police and Crime Commissioner

Following the results of the Sub 21 Wallsend youth project announced at Newcastle University on Tuesday 10^th July 2012.  I'm announcing that if I'm elected I will be appointing a ‘Young Person’s Police and Crime Commissioner’ to coordinate youth based community safety initiatives across the Northumbria area.

The Sub 21 project was a young person’s based scheme in the Wallsend area of North Tyneside following concerns about ‘kerbside drinking’ by young people in the area. A range of diversionary activities such as, Body fit, Cookery classes, football, Radio workshops and others were planned , organised at weekends and advertised through local schools and social media sites.

The results of the project saw dramatic reductions in anti social youth disorder down 30% in 2009/10 and a 49% reduction in alcohol related disorder.  These were followed in 2010/11 by a further 9% reduction in anti social youth disorder and in 2011/12 a further reduction of 22% in anti social youth disorder.

Some of the quotes from young people who took part included:

“Cos it’s like keeping us fit and getting us off the drink”

“ I did drink but then since I had more stuff to do on Fridays I don’t drink any more.”

“It’s a good thing for us to do.  It keeps us off the streets and out of trouble.”

I personally believe that The Sub 21 project results are truly enlightening and shows that if activities are organised and advertised successfully the reductions in anti social youth disorder and teenage drinking can be dramatic.  The beauty of this scheme was that once young people got involved they ran things for themselves.  That’s why I want to see a young person take charge of coordinating such schemes across the whole of Northumbria.

Let’s get kids off the streets, stop them drinking and get them involved in some healthy exercise and meaningful activities.  I want to point them in the right direction and then let them get on with it and organise themselves.  That’s why I think a ‘Young Person’s Police and Crime Commissioner’ would be a good idea.

Andrew Brown, Director of Programmes for Mentor UK said:

“Sub 21 is a proven programme that supports the positive aspirations of young people in so doing plays a major part in preventing drug and alcohol misuse.

It’s great to see that Phil wants to adopt this agenda, should he be elected in November.  We urge all Police and Crime Commissioners to invest in evidence based approaches and programmes that reduce the likelihood of young people developing problems with drugs and alcohol or entering the criminal justice system.”

Note:  Sub 21 was supported by the National Social Marketing Centre and funded by North Tyneside PCT and assisted by North Tyneside Council.  The results were commissioned by Mentor UK.