Young people living in Surrey are invited to have their say on crime and policing as part of a new forum supported by the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.
The Surrey Youth Commission, which will be overseen by Deputy Commissioner Ellie Vesey-Thompson, calls on young people aged between 14 and 25 to shape the future of crime prevention in the county.
Applications are now being invited from those who would like to get involved with the challenging and rewarding scheme over the course of the next nine months.
Ellie said: “We’re so proud to launch this brilliant initiative, which is dedicated to helping young and underrepresented people get involved in the crucial issues that impact their lives.
“As Deputy Commissioner, I work with children and young people around Surrey, and I believe that their voices must be heard.
“This innovative project will allow more people to speak up on the biggest issues they face right now and directly inform future crime prevention in Surrey.”
Surrey Commissioner Lisa Townsend has awarded a grant to not-for-profit organisation Leaders Unlocked to deliver the initiative. Between 25 and 30 successful young applicants will be given practical skills training before holding forums on the issues they’d particularly like to address and then giving feedback to Ellie and her Office.
During the next year, at least 1,000 young people from Surrey will be consulted about the Youth Commission’s key priorities. Members of the Commission will ultimately develop a series of recommendations for the force and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, which will be presented at a final conference.
Lisa said: “One of the top priorities in my current Police and Crime Plan is to strengthen the relationships between Surrey Police and our residents.
“This fantastic scheme will ensure we are hearing opinions from young people across a range of backgrounds, so we understand what they feel are the most important issues for the force to tackle.
“So far, 15 Police and Crime Commissioners have worked with Leaders Unlocked to develop Youth Commissions.
“These impressive groups have consulted with their peers on some truly weighty topics, from racism to drug abuse and rates of reoffending.
“I’m excited to see what Surrey’s young people have to say.”
See more information or apply on our Surrey Youth Commission page.
Applications must be submitted by December 16.