Investing in People

Respect Roadshow Rolled Out in Bournemouth and Poole

An anti-social behaviour preventative roadshow returns to schools in rural Dorset this February, and for the first time ever, schools in Bournemouth and Poole will also benefit from the programme.

GRIP (Gaining Respect in People) was launched in schools in Dorset in 2008 by the Safe Schools and Communities Team (SSCT), a partnership between Dorset Police, the county’s Youth Offending Team (YOT), Bournemouth Borough Council and Poole Borough Council. The programme was aimed at year seven pupils (11-12 year olds).

In 2008, the GRIP programme was delivered to more than two thousand pupils in Dorset County (equating to 13 schools). In 2009, 19 schools and more than three thousand pupils were part of the programme.

This year, 31 schools in Dorset County and 14 schools in Bournemouth and Poole will be visited by the programme. This equates to more than 5,500 year seven school pupils.

Each day starts with a 40-minute assembly with a presentation on the public’s perception of anti-social behaviour.

Students then take part in three workshops covering the following:-

• Restorative Justice - role-play delivered by one of our Safe Schools and Communities Officers targeting a local community-based issue.
• PACT (Partners and Communities Together), Bournemouth 2026 and Safer Poole - delivered by the Safer Neighbourhood Team and designed to introduce young people to community engagement processes.
• Offensive weapons - aimed at raising awareness of the legislation and guidance around offensive weapons.

This year, the team will also be joined by anti-social behaviour reduction officers from various local authorities.

Safe Schools and Communities Team Leader, Yvonne Surman, said: “Anti-social behaviour is continuously raised at both local and national level as being one of the largest areas of concern for communities in England and Wales.

“Dealing with this type of behaviour requires not only an enforcement approach but arguably and more importantly a preventative approach.

“We all know that young people are often portrayed as the biggest perpetrators of anti-social behaviour; however, evidence has shown that not only is this inaccurate but they are also more likely to be victims of such behaviour.

“With this in mind we see the role of schools as being of paramount importance in supporting us to provide education and advice to the young people in our community.”

PACT (Partners and Communities Together), Bournemouth 2026 and Safer Poole are the names given, and processes used, when community safety service providers from organisations, including local councils, police, fire, health, housing and probation, engage in the community. They represent partnership working, rather than favouring any single agency, and a commitment to improving the quality of life in your community. Through these processes, your local community safety service providers identify the issues that matter most to you, then prioritise and tackle them.

Source of this Article:

Dorset Police, Bournemouth and Poole Division (opens a new window)

By Wido Weidler (Bournemouth Borough Council)

Posted: Wednesday 24 February 2010

Permalink: http://www.bournemouth2026.org.uk/respect_roadshow_rolled_out_in_bournemouth_and_poole

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