Police

Kent Police are committed to working with young people, their families and schools to build positive relationships.

They have nominated police officers working with children and young people in schools across the county. They have jointly funded Police Community Support Officers allocated to a number of schools, providing visible reassurance to staff, pupils, parents and the local community. As part of this commitment, they have developed professional educational packages which can be used by officers across the county as part of their support to schools' educational programmes. These address issues such as criminal damage, anti-social behaviour, guns and knives and text bullying. In particular, the Kent Police Is It Really Worth It? criminal damage education pack has proved to be extremely successful and is now being marketed to other forces by the Kent Peoples’ Trust.

Their commitment to children, schools and families was further strengthened during 2008/09 by the introduction of a new local strategy and delivery plan developed around the Association of Chief Police Officer’s Youth Strategy. It represents a significant shift in the way Kent Police work with children and young people because it takes a holistic approach, drawing in not only their schools and colleges but also their families and neighbourhoods. Kent Police is one of the first forces to take this approach.

Kent Police aim to:

• reduce youth crime;
• increase confidence in Kent Police by engaging with young people and their families;
• support young people as victims and witnesses of crime;
• use early intervention measures to reduce the numbers of young people becoming offenders;
• use appropriate enforcement measures when necessary;
• assist in the management of young offenders to reduce re-offending;
• train and develop staff to a high standard to ensure consistent and effective delivery of services.

There are four main service delivery themes that run through the framework of the strategy:

• protection, including the identification and referral of those at risk;
• prevention;
• offender management;
• support services.

Providing services for children and young people is a priority and Kent police will ensure that the services they provide to them and their families are delivered in the most appropriate way. They also recognise the importance of ensuring that their strategy is as effective as possible, however. They will therefore work with their partners to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people as set out in Every Child Matters and the Children Act 2004.

Find out more at www.kent.police.uk/Advice/Young%20people/Information%20for%20youn.html.

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