The Youth Advisory Panel for Three Rivers Housing was officially launched on Tuesday 5th December 2009. The aim of the project is to create a culturally diverse youth panel comprised of ages 11 to 19, in order to promote tolerance within our communities and improve understanding between young people and police.

On the 18th February 2010 Three Rivers Housing organised 23 young people from our very own Youth Advisory Panel to visit Chester Le Street Police Station to find out more about policing issues and their role in the community.

The visit to the Police Station gave the young people an opportunity to see behind the scenes and understand what goes into policing County Durham.

PC Sarah Douglas said "This is an exciting new youth strategy that I hope will promote tolerance between cultures as well as a better understanding of youth culture itself.

With youth disorder a priority in many areas, Three Rivers Housing, Youth Workers, Local Volunteers and the Police are looking for innovative ways to turn kids away from crime and towards more fulfilling activities. Officers from Durham County police adopted an innovative approach of their own, when they took youths through role plays which helped the young people understand what its like to be locked up in a cell and be questioned by police in an interview room. The young people were also put through a forensic examination to show how easy it is to catch criminals through DNA testing.

This also gave the opportunity for the young people to raise issues that concerned them with a police officer.

“When the time to go home approached, it was clear to see that a good time was
had by all, with many of the youths asking if they could come back again,”

All the youths were complimentary of the skill and dedication of the Police, and grateful that so many people had given up their free time to run the event for these youths.”

Gareth Heslington of Three Rivers Housing said “We hope the visit will help the young people to understand the role that the police undertake to serve our communities.”

The tour also contributed to further recruitment to the Youth Advisory Panel.

This will help us determine what key issues the young people would like to discuss on behalf of their communities. The Youth Advisory Panel will give an opportunity to influence or give a young person’s perspective on housing and community decisions that effect young people. This acts on recent proposals to put more power into the hands of communities and young people themselves as per the government’s white paper communities in control.
I would just like to convey my thanks to everyone who helped out to organise this event and a special thank you to the police officers who took their time out to explain their vital role to the young people in the communities they serve.