Youth event tackles knife and gang crime

A tough event that has engaged six schoolchildren for almost 700 years with topics such as knife crime, gangs and online safety.

The Young Citizen’s Scheme took place over two days in Northampton.

The program included a play by students from Rushden about staying safe online.

Ch Insp Kim Jackson said the event would make a “real difference in creating a safer and more inclusive community”.

The project, which took place at the Deco Theater in Northampton, also covered fire and water safety, anti-social behaviour, railway safety and substance abuse.

Over lunch, Year 11 students from Rushden Academy performed their play “Add Me”, which focused on the importance of staying safe online.

There was also a hate crime workshop delivered by West Northamptonshire Youth Partnership, which focused on discrimination and was inspired by their social media takeover day in August.

David Smith, West Northamptonshire Council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “The partnerships and dedication of everyone involved have created an experience that will have a lasting impact on these young students.”

Ch Insp Kim Jackson, from Northamptonshire Police, said the Youth Forum’s “efforts to raise awareness are making a real difference in creating a safer and more inclusive community”.

Follow the news from Northamptonshire on BBC sounds, Facebook, Instagram And X.

More about this story

Related Internet Links