15 youngsters are appointed to Police Youth Forum
FIFTEEN young people have been appointed to the Dyfed-Powys Police Youth Forum.
The force’s police and crime commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn welcomed young people from across the region to the police headquarters in Carmarthen, who will work with him and the force on three key youth priorities.
The youngsters aged 15 to 19 had an induction and training session to support and prepare them in representing young people from Powys, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
Mr Llywelyn first established the Youth Forum in 2018, and wants to build on the work to date, so that Dyfed-Powys has a forum of youth ambassadors who are ready to ‘influence’ and ‘challenge decisionmaking’, to ensure that the communities of Dyfed-Powys have a police force that successfully safeguard children and young people and promote their wellbeing.
Over the summer months, as part of the recruitment campaign for the youth forum, the office of the police and crime commissioner launched a youth survey asking young people for their views and perception of policing in their area.
The survey findings have identified three priority areas for the Youth Forum to focus on for 2022/23.
The three priorities identified are: Mental Health support for young victims; Substance mis-use prevention activities for young people; Support for young adults who are committing low level offences, to build their confidence and access training and employment.
Mr Llewelyn said: “I have always had a passion for building a strong relationship with young people and want to better understand what leads some young people to crime and disorder and how they can be helped to make positive choices in life.
“I want to ensure that each and every young person has a voice in the future of policing in DyfedPowys. I want to know what they feel our priorities should be? What impact does crime have on them and their community? What do we need to change? “It was fantastic to welcome the ambassadors to headquarters for their induction session, and to have to discuss various issues with them.
“They will now, be representing the voices of young people from all backgrounds, and will support me with my scrutiny work by challenge decisions, provide recommendations, and influence change for the benefit of young people in our area.”
During their induction and training session in headquarters, the youth forum were given an input on the three areas by staff and officers, as well as an input on children’s rights by representatives from the Children’s Commissioner in Wales’ Office.
Youth ambassador, Catrin Morris of Ceredigion said: “I joined the police and crime commissioner’s Youth Forum because I want to make sure that young people’s voices are heard. I see the forum as a bridge between the police and young people, and I want to represent the young people of Ceredigion on this group”.