Students help shape the future of North Yorkshire policing
These three North Yorkshire students have all signed up to become members of this year’s Youth Commission – which helps shapes the force’s approach to tackling issues affecting young people.
Pictured from left to right are: Eleanor Garrard, aged 15, of Wensleydale School, Amy Judge, aged 17, of Richmond Sixth Form, and Ross Hutton, aged 17, of Northallerton School and Sixth Form.
The Youth Commission was funded by North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan’s Community Fund and the three students are among 36 volunteers aged 14 to 25 to sign up.
Over the coming few months, it will carry out a major consultation exercise in events at colleges, youth clubs and other venues across the county in order to gather the views of more than 1,500 young people.
The issues they will discuss are:
- Hate crime
- Abusive relationships
- Drug and alcohol
- Vulnerability and mental health
- Relationships with the police
- Young people missing from home and at risk of exploitation.
Eleanor said: “It’s a great opportunity to get our voice heard and make our point where it matters. In the past, young people haven’t been taken seriously enough but I think the Youth Commission is changing that and the police and other organisations are sitting up and listening to what we have to say.”
The Youth Commission was piloted last year and after a major consultation with young people across the area, it presented the police with a report which included key recommendations.
This year’s Youth Commission will build on that work and explore new areas of interest or concern for young people.
Police and crime commissioner for North Yorkshire Julia Mulligan said: “I instigated the Youth Commission because it was clear from my work in drawing up the Police and Crime Plan that the views of children and young people were not being heard as they should be. The members of the Commission are all volunteers and I thank them wholeheartedly for getting behind this project with so much enthusiasm.
“This is the second year of the Commission in North Yorkshire and we are already seeing its emerging influence within North Yorkshire Police with its members giving talks about youth issues to new recruits and influencing the force’s approach in a range of ways.
“I’m thankful for their time, energy and commitment and look forward to another year of reaching out to engage with hundreds more young people on policing issues.”