Friday 30 January
11.30hrs
An innovative and educational DVD which aims to help reduce
criminal damage caused by young people had it first screening at
Vue Cinema, Cribbs Causeway on Tuesday 27 January.
Safer South Gloucestershire, Avon and Somerset Constabulary,
Avon Fire & Rescue Service and South Gloucestershire Council
have worked in partnership to produce the DVD called ‘Damage Done…
it doesn’t just happen’.
The interactive resource is the first of its kind in the country
and includes a downloadable teaching package for schools across
South Gloucestershire. It tackles issues of criminal damage such as
arson, vandalism, graffiti and the possible consequences of these
actions.
Pupils at a local secondary school were shown a test screening
of the DVD and their feedback was incorporated into the final cut.
A group of students then attended the launch screening on
Tuesday.
Safer South Gloucestershire commissioned the DVD as part of
its work in tackling criminal
damage, which focusses on early intervention and
educating young people.
Targeted at students in years 7 to 10 (11 – 15 year olds), the
project aims to raise awareness on the common problems associated
with criminal damage, and ties in with Key Stage 3-4 of the
Citizenship programme and aspects of the PSHE programme.
A sample of the lesson plans which will accompany the DVD will
be made available at the launch.
Philippa Isbell, speaking on behalf of the Safer South
Gloucestershire partners involved in the project, said: "We know
the effects that seemingly 'minor' damage can have on our
communities and people's sense of safety and well-being.
"The young people we talk to are often surprised to find they
can be arrested for criminal damage and they do not understand the
effect of having a criminal record on their future opportunities,
such as employment.
"The DVD will serve as a valuable tool to ensure we continue to
work in partnership to reduce incidents of criminal damage."
Sarah Jones, Teaching and Learning Adviser at South
Gloucestershire Council, added: “We developed this teaching package
to highlight the unseen damaging effects that vandalism and
anti-social behaviour can have on people’s lives, and to get young
people to really think about the consequences of their attitudes
and actions.”
Over the coming weeks, the Safer South Gloucestershire
Partnership will be making ‘Damage Done’ available to each
secondary school in South Gloucestershire. It will also be made
available nationwide for use by other community partnerships to
help support a multi-agency approach to tackling criminal
damage.
Watch the 'Damage Done' trailer at www.firetv.org.uk