Project: Safety in Action
Funding: £11,000 from cross-agency funding
Aim: To teach schoolchildren to live an independent life and reduce fear of crime.
More than 800 primary school pupils in Kent have taken part in a scheme to educate them about what to do if they witness a crime.
Safety in Action is a multi-agency initiative organised by, among others, Medway Council, Kent Police, British Red Cross, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, British Transport Police and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (Ceop).
Each agency ran a workshop to educate children on responsible citizenship, develop their confidence and competence in personal safety skills, and prepare them for a more independent life.
Medway Council used a mock abandoned car with smashed windows and needles inside to show the risks of injury and infection when going near a dumped car.
Kent Police used an acting graffiti artist who tagged a wall and then ran off in an exercise to teach children what to do if they see someone commit a crime. This included the importance of staying away from a crime, dialling 999 and giving an eyewitness account.
The scheme also taught children about drug and alcohol awareness, rail safety, first aid, internet safety, river and beach safety and antisocial behaviour.
Medway councillor Rehman Chishti says: "The transition from primary to secondary school can be daunting and it is our aim to make children feel safe and confident. It was great to see their reactions as they found out more about each agency. It was clear they were interested in what they were learning."
PC Mel Ling, safer schools partnership co-ordinator at Kent Police, says: "It is important for children to know who they should contact if they see someone committing a crime, the outcomes for the offenders and how to keep themselves safe. Hopefully our input will have a lasting and positive effect on them."
