POLICE have been engaging with young people in Warrington as part of an alcohol harm prevention campaign in a bid to target young people who will starting a new life away from their parents.
PC Jeff Mather, schools liaison officer for Warrington and Police Community Support Officers are visiting schools and colleges across the borough to deliver alcohol awareness messages to youngsters.
Warrington Collegiate has been hosting the initiative, along with the police “Totally Wasted” initiative, where officers have a chance to speak with students and offer safety advice.
PC Mather said: “My work as a schools liaison officer can be a challenge at times because of the variety of schools I attend to deliver workshops. “The subject of alcohol abuse can be a difficult area to tackle when speaking to young people, because rather than pointing the finger at them, and issuing the risks and dangers, we use an informal approach and encourage interaction.
“Underage drinking is a problem area for us, but by targeting Year 10 and 11s at secondary school age, we hope to influence their way of thinking. Because underage drinking is a problem, and those getting such easy access to alcohol are drinking 40 per cent proof vodka and spirits and taking it to school or local playing fields to consume with friends, we know it is happening and use this knowledge to educate this age group with a talk called ‘Why young people take risks?’
“Alcohol can affect your decision making or personality, can make you less inhibited and try things that you wouldn’t try before.
“We also use hard hitting graphic photographs and video footage to make an impact and promote thought amongst younger people.”
Police are offering advice and guidance on recommended alcohol units per week, the health consequences of prolonged alcohol misuse and how “getting wasted” can result in a night in a police cell.
“We need to get to the root of the problem of alcohol misuse, and for me that starts in the class room with education!”
Picture: PCSOs and students at Warrington Collegiate with footage from the police “Totally Wasted” initiative playing out on the campus screen.
