York and North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime Jo Coles this week paid a visit to Selby College, to find out more about the work being done to educate young people about how to better ensure their personal safety,
Crucial Crew is a multi-agency event organised by police services nationwide in collaboration with schools. The aim of the event is to raise awareness of safety issues to school children aged 10-11, the point at which they are about to enter secondary school.
The event at Selby College, which was supported in part by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Community Safety Serious Violence Fund, took the form of a range of 12-15 minute practical sessions covering a broad range of topics, each educating the students in a specific risk area and how to react, such as demonstrating how to safely assist someone struggling in water.
The College provided rooms for the sessions free of charge for over 800 schoolchildren from 29 schools, with the agencies involved in running the sessions including the Canal and River Trust, National PowerGrid, British Transport Police, Inspire Youth, Living well, North Yorkshire Council.
Jo Coles, Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime said:
“Events like this can play a huge part in keeping young people being safe and feeling safe. I was delighted to see the work being done to ensure that children have the knowledge to not only help keep themselves safe, but also their friends and family.
The practical advice being given here today will be keeping these students safe as they head into the summer months, whether it be around railways, pylons or roads.”