03 July 2012
Police Launch Competition To Help Youngsters Stay
Safe
Bedfordshire Police is inviting young people aged between 11 and
18 to put their creative skills to the test with a performing arts
competition designed to highlight the dangers and consequences of
committing street robberies.
The ‘Stay Safe’ competition requires entrants to create a three
minute performance video in which they sing, dance or act and is
being supported by the charity Crimestoppers, which has recently
launched http://www.fearless.org/ a website designed to allow
young people to give information about crime 100% anonymously as a
safe alternative to the Police.
Finalists will see their videos posted on Bedfordshire Police’s
website where the public will be invited to vote for their
favourite in each of the three categories. Winners will receive a
cash prize, which will be presented at a ‘showcase’ at the force’s
headquarters in December.
The competition is part of the force’s drive to fight crime and
protect the public while making offenders feel less assured. Street
robberies are often committed by young people on young people and
some may not even realise their actions constitute an offence. It
is this misguided view youngsters are being encouraged to explore
and highlight in their video.
Richard Denton is the force’s Children and Young People
Development Officer & Schools Co-ordinator, and says some
youngsters are naive and do not realise the significance of their
actions. He said:
“ Reducing robbery is a priority for the force but many people
don’t realise what constitutes an offence. Robbery is when you use
or threaten to use force to steal. It’s more serious than theft and
you can be guilty of robbery even if you are just part of a group
that robbed someone and carries a maximum sentence of life
imprisonment.
Bedfordshire Police hopes that portraying this message through
song, dance or drama will bring home the reality of crime and make
young people think twice about their actions. We are delighted to
be linking up with the Crimestoppers youth brand ‘Fearless’ website
as giving information about robbery and solving robbery is as
important as preventing it.
We really hope schools and clubs will see this competition as a
fun and inspiring way to teach young people about consequences
around this often violent and intimidating offence while harnessing
their creative talents.”
Entries must be received no later than 26 October 2012. The
winner from each category will receive £100 worth of high street
vouchers. For more details about the competition go to http://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/ and click on the
‘Stay safe’ section.
