Police in the Cotswolds have joined forces with Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) in the region over the school summer holidays.
Last week (6-9 July), a Youth Engagement Officer from Gloucestershire Constabulary and a Young Person Support Officer from GFRS visited eight schools across the Cotswolds to deliver ASB awareness sessions to over 1000 pupils.
Aimed at children in years five to eight, the sessions identified different types of ASB, such as playing music too loudly, cherry knocking, vandalism and graffiti, and pupils learnt how these behaviours can cause distress and alarm to others in the community.
The children were also taught about negative peer pressure which could push them towards risky, unsafe or harmful behaviours, the potential criminal consequences of ASB, and the importance of reporting any nuisance behaviour to police.
GFRS educated pupils about the dangers of entering derelict buildings and deliberate fire setting, as well as water safety.
Gloucestershire Constabulary Youth Engagement Officer PC Leah Davis said: “We hope the sessions we’ve delivered in schools with our partners at GFRS will have a positive impact on communities throughout the Cotswolds.
“Summer is a time when ASB typically increases, and whilst we want everyone to enjoy themselves over the holidays, we also want to encourage children to think about their behaviour to keep themselves, and their friends, safe from harm and out of trouble.
“Parents and carers are also reminded of their responsibilities over the summer months, and we would ask them to be aware of where their children are, what they are doing and who they are with.”
Roxy Hockey, Young Person Support Officer at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “These sessions are an important way of helping young people understand how their actions can affect both their own safety and the wider community.
“We spoke to pupils about the risks of deliberate fire setting, entering disused buildings and unsafe behaviour around water, particularly during the summer holidays.
“By giving young people the knowledge and confidence to make safe choices, we hope to help prevent incidents and keep everyone safe over the coming weeks.”
Anyone with any concerns about ASB is asked to contact police on 101 or report any issues online: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb-v3/report-antisocial-behaviour/
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