Do you know a young person who could help change the face of policing policy in Leicestershire?
Today the Police and Crime Commissioner Sir Clive Loader launches a month-long recruitment campaign to find new members for his ground-breaking Youth Commission.
The first in the country, the Commission was set up to encourage people aged between 14 and 25 living in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to play a part in shaping and influencing policing policy in the area.
In that time, they have conducted extensive research among thousands of other young people about six key areas of concerm, from cyber bullying to child sexual exploitation.
And the conclusions and recommendations of their research are now being taken forward by the PCC to help shape how Leicestershire Police will combat such crimes in the future.
Now the search has begun for the group of commissioners for the next year.
The Youth Commission was created to help Sir Clive identify issues affecting young people and to help develop a stronger relationship between young people and the police.
Its work culminates at the annual Youth Commision conference at which members of the Commission present their thoughts and findings to Sir Clive, to senior officers and to leaders of local partner organisations.
The second annual conference was held at Force Headquarters on March 11 when more than 120 guests heard Commission members present their thoughts on six key work streams:
- Respect and Communication between Young People and the Police
- Cyber Bullying and Social Media
- Drug and Alcohol Abuse
- Missing from Home and Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
- Reducing Offending and Re-Offending
- Domestic Abuse
The PCC’s Head of Policy and Strategy Suzanne Houlihan, who manages the Youth Commission, said: “I’m really looking forward to working with the next in-take of Commission members, to listen to their thoughts and to enable them to make some positive changes in the lives of thousands of young people.
“If you know someone aged between 14 and 25 who is passionate about policing and crime issues and how they affect young people, please encourage them to apply.
“This year’s Conference was a huge success. It was great to see young people discussing issues they are passionate about and knowing that their work will make a difference.”
The next group of Youth Commisioners will have several roles to perform. They will help implement the recommendations that were put forward by the 2014/15 Commission and be given opportunities to discuss and research what they feel are the major issues affecting young people within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland in the coming year.
Sir Clive said; “I am excited to be launching this recruitment campaign today.
“The initiative allows young people to not only gain new knowledge, skills and experience but to also play an important role in helping to shape policy and gather the opinions of other young people about the police and crime more generally.
“This initiative provides young people with the opportunity to speak on behalf of their friends, family and the whole youth community about issues they feel strongly about.
“If you would like to contribute to make a positive change now is the time to apply.”
Leicestershire Youth Commission was the first to be established in the country in 2013, since which time Hampshire and other areas have followed suit and set up their own Commisions.
Application form information is blow. Please send completed forms to katy@leaders-unlocked.org
Closing date for all applications is Friday 26th June at 5pm.
Posted on Monday 9th May 2016