Pioneering Project Gives Ludlow Students Online Link to Police

Students at a Ludlow school have been given an online link straight to their local policing team as part of a pioneering pilot project to encourage closer engagement between young people and their local officers.

Secondary pupils at Ludlow CE School will be able to report any concerns or worries that they might have, or even any positive suggestions on how to improve things for young people in the area, from a dedicated page on their school's intranet site.

The project is a first for both Shropshire and West Mercia Police and, if successful, could be rolled out across all secondary schools and colleges in the area.

It has been pioneered by PC Dan Wood, although he does admit that he is unable to take credit for the initial idea.

"Credit for the initial idea has to go to my wife, PC Tracey Wood, who is a local policing officer down in Tenbury," he said.

"She was having some problems implementing it where she works and now that she is on maternity leave, I asked if she would mind me borrowing her idea and she said not at all.

"So after teaming up with West Mercia's web development manager Neil Tipton, we put together the page for Ludlow School's intranet site, which is accessible to everyone in the school.

"The page explains about who we are and what we do and includes a link directly to our local policing page on the West Mercia Police website, where there is a full list of contact details.

"There they will be able to report any concerns or issues they might have, pass on feedback to us directly and even make positive suggestions on whether there is anything they feel we could do to make things better in the area."

Eventually, PC Wood saya the site will be linked with the school's student council, which will in turn be able to raise issues both for and on behalf of pupils.

"South Shropshire as a whole can struggle with youth engagement when compared to most other areas of the county and we hope this new system will help improve things," he added.

"If it works and proves as popular with the students as we hope, we will look to roll out the system to every school and college in the area.

"This really is a first for the force area and something that we are confident will help improve confidence and satisfaction among young people."

Phil Poulton, headmaster of Ludlow School, said the school was delighted to be working with the police to pioneer the scheme.

"We wholeheartedly support this initiative. It is a non-threatening way of young people contributing to crime prevention in their community," he added

"We can underestimate the abilities and concerns that our students have and the role that they can play in making lives better.

"I sincerely hope that this proves to be a success and that the links between the police and one of its major clients are strengthened still further."

Issued: Monday 26 July 2010