Joint venture to protect pupils

PUPILS at a number of schools in Warrington are benefiting from a new joint venture between police and a local charity, the Brian Kennedy Trust.
Worrying statistics, published in the British Crime Survey, show that young people aged between 10 and 15 years old are four times more likely than adults to be a victim of personal crimes, such as robbery, assault and theft with just 10 per cent informing police of the matter.
Working with schools and the police, the Brian Kennedy Trust (BKT) are introducing a system called the ‘SHARP’ system (which stands for the School Help Advice Reporting Page), which is an internet based system that provides additional links between schools and the police.
The scheme provides pupils, who often do not feel confident talking about their concerns to any adult, with the opportunity to express themselves using a format they find convenient and familiar.
Chief Constable Dave Whatton said: “Cheshire Constabulary is fully committed to working with the Brian Kennedy Trust to improve the life chances for young people in Cheshire. The scheme we are introducing gives young people the opportunity to have their voices heard and will support them in taking positive action to improve their school and community life.
“If the SHARP system can stop even one young person from suffering any harm or makes one person think twice before harming others then it will achieve its purpose. We hope this reporting system is the first of many initiatives we will be able to work with the Brian Kennedy Trust on.”
The SHARP system is already in use in a number of schools across Warrington.
PC Jeff Mather, school liaison officer for Warrington, has been visiting schools in the town to talk to pupils and teachers about the system, how it works and the benefits of it.
He recently took part in a number of school sessions to raise awareness of anti-cyber bullying week – and to highlight the SHARP system.
PC Mather said: “Over the past few weeks I have spoken to around 1,200 young people on topics ranging from cyber bullying, internet safety, issues with social networking sites and good citizenship. I have also been actively promoting the SHARP system in Warrington since early spring 2010 with Culcheth High being the first school to sign up for the programme in June of this year.
“During each assembly or class session I introduced the SHARP system to the students and explained how it works, how to report things and how to seek information on a range of topics from anti-social behaviour, drugs, alcohol, knife crime, internet safety, cyber bullying and domestic abuse.
“We hope to encourage young people to use the system and see the benefits. We also hope to strengthen the links with local schools, the police and the wider community.”