* Youth Commission members with, centre,
Deputy PCC Ann Griffith and PCC Arfon Jones.
A team of young people are laying down the law in
North Wales.
The 30 members of the Youth Commission – the first
of its kind in Wales - are helping to draw up a new plan for the way the region
is policed.
The scheme was set up by North Wales Police and Crime
Commissioner Arfon Jones and is being overseen by his deputy, Ann Griffith,
whose portfolio includes children and young people.
All of the members are aged between 14 and 25 and
the four main topics identified by them as major concerns are the relationship
between young people and the police, drug issues, anti-social behaviour and
mental health issues.
The North Wales Youth Commission meets once a month
under the guidance of Leaders Unlocked, a specialist social enterprise
organisation that works with young people across the UK and which has been
running eight similar schemes across England since 2013.
Also involved is Sian Rogers from Urdd Gobaith
Cymru, the youth organisation, who is there to ensure equal access to the Welsh
language.
At a meeting held in Colwyn Bay, project manager
Alison Roberts said: “The young people who sit on the commission all applied
for the role and were selected from as wide a range of communities as possible
from right across North Wales.
“The group is so diverse. We have A* students who
are really academic, some who are or have been through the care system, young
people form ethnic minorities and others who have experience of the criminal
justice system.
“We have pulled together a group of young people
who in normal circumstances probably wouldn’t have mixed socially. However,
they all have a common goal, to improve the lives of young people in North
Wales.”
She added: “It isn’t just about sitting around a
table at our monthly meetings. Members of the North Wales Youth Commission are
speaking to other young people in schools, colleges, youth clubs and even those
in the youth justice service to get their views and come up with ideas and
solutions to feedback to the PCC.
“The hope is by mid-February we will have spoken to
1,200 young people across North Wales. The plan then is to put the information
gathered before a conference which will be run by the young people themselves
“What eventually comes from that conference will be
recommendations that will be put to the North Wales Police and Crime
Commissioner Arfon Jones and his deputy Ann Griffith and will then form part of
the next North Wales Police and Crime Plan.
“After some very detailed debates the four issues
identified by the young people involved include relationship between young
people and the police, drug issues, anti-social behaviour and mental health
issues.
“As a group these young people are coming up with
all sorts of ideas but it’s those four main topics that keep coming up.”
Emily Jones, of Denbigh, Seren Hughes of Corwen,
Ruthin’s Hanna Roberts and Erin Gwyn, all 17, say the Youth Commission is a
great way for young people to get their views across.
Emily, who has ambitions to become a youth worker,
said: “It’s great being able to discuss ideas with other young people from
different backgrounds and to try and find solutions.
“It’s certainly important that young people are
listened to and that we are given a voice. What we are doing can make a
difference not just to young people but the whole of society.”
Seren, who wants to train a social worker, added:
“There simply isn’t enough youth provision across North Wales. If we are going
to address anti-social behaviour, we have to give disadvantaged young people a
purpose.
“Ignoring young people isn’t the answer. We need to
be listened to. I’m hoping we can make a difference to what the police
concentrate their efforts on as that would benefit everyone not just young
people.”
Hanna, who has plans to study criminal
investigation at university, added: “We need to see more police on the street
but importantly, police officers willing to build a relationship with young
people.
“We rarely or never see police officers coming into
our schools and that’s a shame. It’s a two way thing and we need young people
to build relationships with the police.”
Erin, who wants to study criminology and hasn’t
ruled out a career in the police service, added: “There is a real perception
that some police officers believe certain young people will behave in a certain
way.
“That needs to change as young people need to
understand why the police are doing the job they are and the difficulties the
face.”
Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Griffith,
who has a lead responsibility for young people as part of her role said: “I am
really proud of the work these amazing young people are doing.
“This is a wonderful and innovative project and
it’s fascinating to hear the views of so many young people. They really do have
a voice and we need to listen. I have no doubt the voice of young people will
feature strongly in our next Police and Crime Plan.
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon
Jones dropped in to listen to the young people taking part in the Youth
Commission meeting.
He said: “I was fascinated to hear some of the
views from these young people who come from right across North Wales.
“It’s clear they are putting a great deal of
thought into the issues that affect young people and in particular in their day
to day relationships with the police.
“We will listen very carefully to their views and
what they believe is the way forward as we develop our new Police and Crime
plan.”
