Education holds key to community safety

Education experts from across West Yorkshire are coming together to help address the underlying causes of serious violence and exploitation.

Tomorrow (Thursday 21^st March) the Violence Reduction Partnership is hosting an ‘Education Celebration’ event in Leeds.

It sees representatives from dozens of local organisations sharing their knowledge to create safe learning environments for children.

They’ll be covering issues ranging from ‘online harms’ to ‘child centred’ approaches.

Director of the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership, Detective Chief Superintendent Lee Berry said:

“Education must be the cornerstone to tackling issues of serious violence.

“There’s a huge amount of experience and knowledge in West Yorkshire that can unlock the door to new opportunities for our young people.

“By sharing what we know and looking for new solutions together, we can have an even greater impact and change lives.”

West Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE is opening the event and said:

“We know that children who are excluded or miss school are at a much higher risk of being exposed to violence and entering the prison system as an adult.

“We have it in our collective power to change this, and that starts with recognising the issues.

“By exchanging our ideas and approaches, we can support our young people to thrive and make the right choices, giving them the best possible start in life.”

Amy Watkins is the head of the education resource Pol-Ed at West Yorkshire Police and will be speaking at the event. She added:

“Pol-Ed is an innovative early intervention and prevention education programme to improve children’s understanding of risks, citizenship and the law, as well as building better relationships with the police.

“Ensuring all children have an in-depth understanding around a range of safeguarding topics to keep themselves, and others safe whilst developing key attributes such as self-worth and respect, will allow for children to make well-informed and mature decisions when they face a range of scenarios on their journey to adulthood and beyond.”