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Cheshire: Reducing fear of young people
Background
One of the conclusions from Cheshire's consultation with skateboarders was that it is important to consult with young people and involve them in problem solving.
Action
Janette Wallace Gedge, the Cheshire postholder, organised a competition designed to elicit suggestions and feedback from young people about how to overcome fear of young people among some other members of the public.
A postcard was produced with two ways of entering the competition: answers on the postcard and a freepost return; and answers to an email address. Approximately 7,500 postcards were distributed at the Cheshire Show (the annual county show held over two days in June each year) and through two of the school liaison officers. Cinema tickets and CD vouchers were on offer for the most innovative ideas.
Most of the 110 replies were received by postcard. There was a technical problem with the email response mechanism and only four replies were received by email.
'To ask the young people nicely, but, if they refuse to move then get serious.' 'You could open more Youth Clubs, with activities both indoor and outside. For example football, dance and basketball.' 'Get more entertainment in Widnes, for example pictures, night café, theatre, then people will stop hanging around on the streets.' |
An overwhelming majority of respondents felt that young people needed facilities if they were to 'keep off the streets'. Many responses were along the lines of 'give us somewhere to go and we'll be out of your way.' Quite a number of responses were requests for specific facilities. It also emerged that young people do not understand the role of the police.
Learning
Although 110 responses which has given useful information were received, the rate was lower than hoped for. This was probably due to a number of factors:
- A mechanism for collecting responses at the Cheshire Show could have been used more effectively. The young people who were approached and spoken to directly had ideas, which it would have been useful to capture.
- More time was needed to set up and test the technology of the mailbox. It only started working two days before the competition closed. People responding before that time would have found that their responses bounce back.
- More use could have been made of the website. The web manager designed and posted the competition on the site and would be willing to encourage greater use of the site for future competiti4 May, 2005en given more time to work the competition into their schedule, the team could have made better use of their ideas, which might have increased the number of responses received.
What next
The responses are being collated into a report, which will be shared with our partner agencies as well as with the force.
Further information
See the full-size postcard (opens in new window)
See the full list of replies (Word, 26kb)
See the full report (Word, 239kb)
Please contact Janette: Janette.Wallace-Gedge@cheshire.pnn.police.uk
