Lessons in respect given as school holidays await

By chris philpotts news reporter

WITH the summer break about to begin, kids in Kingstanding have been given a lesson about the pitfalls of anti-social behaviour.

Officers from Oscott neighbourhood policing team linked up with Birmingham Community Safety Partnership Officer David Clifton to visit schools in the area and raise awareness around the impact ASB can have on the community.

Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Wendy Woakes from Kingstanding police station said: "As the summer holidays approach we thought it was important to help younger children understand how certain forms of behaviour can affect local residents.

"The pupils were very responsive and contributed to the talks in a very positive manner.

"Highlighting these concerns will hopefully allow the children to think before they act and see things through the eyes of the community."

The sessions were aimed at 9-11-year-olds and were delivered over a two-week period to eight schools across the area as part of the PHSE Citizenship classes.

The talk identified what anti-social behaviour is, what type of behaviour is considered anti-social, the sanctions available to the council and police to tackle the problem, consequences for the perpetrators and the impact on communities and individuals.

Senior Project Officer David Clifton from Birmingham Community Safety Partnership said: "It's important to work in partnership with schools and I would like to thank the headteachers for allowing us to provide an input.

"In turn I believe it will create a better relationship and understanding between the children, local officers and the community.

"It's important for children to feel they can enjoy the summer break without having an impact on local neighbours; highlighting the issue around anti-social behaviour through the school will hopefully have achieved just that."