St Joseph’s Combined School, Parkstone, won £200 and a trophy in the 2009 Dorset Crimebeat Challenge

Last year LV= Streetwise was delighted to announce its continued involvement in Dorset Crimebeat with the support of the High Sheriffs of Dorset and in association with Dorset Police and other agencies along with the seventh consecutive annual Dorset Crimebeat Challenge schools competition.

The 2008 winners, Christchurch Junior School, gave a presentation about how they spent their winnings on supporting visitor security system at the school and then a new team from the school competed alongside St. Joseph’s Combined, Parkstone, Kinson Primary from Bournemouth and Beechcroft St. Paul’s CE VA Primary from Weymouth. Each of the runner-up teams received a cheque for £75 to be put towards community projects in their schools.

In the competition, each school randomly chose a scenario with problems from ‘road’, ‘heath’, ‘beach’ and ‘railway’ and a ‘fictitious cash amount’ to spend on it. The teams then had 30 minutes to solve the issue they had chosen with the funds they had selected. Dorset Police supported each school on the day with a Safer Neighbourhood Team officer.

An Experts Panel was also available to support the pupils - Martha Perry, East Dorset Community Safety Officer; Ade Stark, Dorset Police; George mcConnel, Dorset Fire & Rescue; and Sarah Doel from the Urban Heaths Partnership.

 

 

 

 

 

Each school then presented their solutions to the audience and the winner was chosen by Judging Panel comprising (photo above L to R): Chris Lee, Deputy Chief Constable, Dorset Police; Phil Burridge, Home Safety Manager, Dorset Fire & Rescue Service; The Worshipful The Mayor of Bournemouth, Cllr Mrs Beryl Baxter; Mrs Vicky McDonaugh - High Sheriff of Dorset 2009/10; and Chris Haresign, Area Manager Mainline, South West Trains

Winners St Joseph's (pictured right with Alison Shelton and Chris Haresign) randomly selected the railway and its problems with young people using it as a short cut, vandalizing and playing in the tunnel and behaving badly on the platforms and on the train. They had £3,000 to spend and their solutions included CCTV, higher and stronger fencing, extra signage, education on littering on trains and railways, more bins, litter pickers, leaflets and a competition in schools.

Alison Shelton, LV= Streetwise Manager commented, “We were delighted to host this annual event to encourage not only participation for schools but genuine thought provoking activities to encourage young people to take ownership of crime reducing opportunities. Taking responsibility and solving problems isn't just about funding - the willingness actually to take responsibility and do something is a key factor which can have value beyond money. We are all looking forward to seeing tangible results from this year’s winning school. "

The 2010 Dorset Crimebeat Challenge will be held in the Autumn (date tbc) and presided over by Tim Palmer, High Sheriff of Dorset 2010/11. We are currently looking for schools who would like to submit a team of five pupils from Year 5 to take part in this year's challenge Contact helen@streetwise.org.uk  

Dorset Crimebeat is a local charity operated through LV= Streetwise and offers grants of up to £500 to young people to encourage them to get involved with crime reduction activities and create safer communities. It encourages, empowers and enables young people to make a contribution. It links to the National Crimebeat organisation which has been developed by successive High Sheriffs across the country. The Dorset Crimebeat scheme provides real and tangible opportunities for young people in the county to solve problems that matter to them in their communities. For more information on Dorset Crimebeat visit www.dorsetcrimebeat.org.uk or contact Lynette Weedon, Dorset Crimebeat Project Coordinator on 01202 593333 at the safety centre.