Drive to keep kids safe on the streets (From Dudley News)

Drive to keep kids safe on the streets

3:10pm Wednesday 8th July 2009

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A NEW initiative to make sure young people are safe on the streets has been launched in North Dudley.

Operation Staysafe is part of Safe and Sound, Dudley’s Community Safety Partnership’s drive to reduce incidents of antisocial behaviour in the borough.

The joint project, being run between police and Dudley Council’s directorate of children’s services, aims to stop children becoming victims of crime or being drawn into criminal behaviour.

As part of the initiative, police officers patrol the streets in unmarked vans, keeping their eyes peeled for any youngsters who they think may come to harm on the streets.

Any young person who is considered to be at significant risk of harm are taken to a safe centre by police, where the youngsters’ parents will be contacted.

They will then be interviewed by police and children’s services and intervention plans will be put together.

One of the main issues the operation is tackling is underage drinking, which is usually the cause of antisocial behaviour.

On Friday evening, police patrolled Gornal, Sedgley and Woodsetton in unmarked vans.

During the operation, a large number of youngsters were spoken to by officers, with a quantity of alcohol seized off the streets.Four young people were also taken to the safe centre.

Mark Sutton, Sedgley Neighbourhood Inspector said: “This operation is about ensuring youngsters are kept safe and that parents take full responsibility for knowing what their children are doing and where they are.

“It is about making sure that the community feel safe and that young people understand the consequences of their actions.”

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