ANOTHER NEW CRIME PREVENTION TOOL FOR PRISON! ME! NO WAY!!! JERSEY
2008-11-10
PRISON! ME! NO WAY!!! Jersey are adding another tool to their armoury in their fight against youth crime by producing a new local DVD entitled ‘Split Second’ which will be used in a secondary school workshop designed and delivered by authorised firearms officers from the States of Jersey Police Armed Response Team. The DVD addresses the irresponsible use of ‘BB’ guns and the choices and consequences for all concerned along the way.PRISON! ME! NO WAY!!! Jersey are adding another tool to their armoury in their fight against youth crime by producing a new local DVD entitled ‘Split Second’ which will be used in a secondary school workshop designed and delivered by authorised firearms officers from the States of Jersey Police Armed Response Team. The DVD addresses the irresponsible use of ‘BB’ guns and the choices and consequences for all concerned along the way.
This weekend, on Saturday 11 October and Sunday 12 October, Creative Channel, the in-house production arm of Channel Television, will be filming some dramatic excerpts of the DVD in St. Helier early in the morning. The scenes, which will be filmed at Charing Cross, King Street and Don Street, will involve media students from local schools who are playing roles in the educational DVD along with States of Jersey Police Officers and will provide an extremely visual and exciting media opportunity whilst the production of the mini action piece is being filmed.
The local business community have been informed that filming is taking place in their areas, as has the Connetable of St. Helier. In order not to cause undue alarm, we would appreciate an early opportunity to advise members of the public through the media that the action piece is being filmed in a contained area in the centre of St. Helier on Saturday 11th October and Sunday 12th October.
Representatives from Prison! Me! No Way!!! Jersey and the States of Jersey Police will be available on location during filming to deal with any concerns or approaches from members of the public.
The completed DVD will be part of a Prison! Me! No Way!!! Crime and Safety Awareness Day which targets Year 8 students in our Island secondary schools and will be launched during the next set of Crime and Safety Awareness Days scheduled for Week Commencing the 20th October 2008.
The short DVD - which will also be streamed on the Prison! Me! No Way!!! Jersey web site - is designed to engage with the students during an innovative and interactive workshop headed up by States of Jersey Police authorised firearms officer Sgt Dean Machin who explains to students how officers only have a split second to decide whether a firearm they are confronted with is real or a replica.
The co-ordinator of Prison! Me! No Way!!! Jersey is Police Constable Karen Houston who has been seconded full time to the project. She said: ‘It costs a significant amount of taxpayers’ money to maintain a prisoner inside Jersey’s prison. We hope that the workshops we deliver will help youngsters to think differently about a life of crime. Prison is not only expensive to fund, it can be a lonely, frightening and isolating experience with harsh rules to follow. We hope that the students who complete our workshops think about the choices they have. If they choose not to offend, then that has a positive impact on the whole of our society.’
Chairperson of Prison! Me! No Way!!! Lesley Harrison explained: ‘The programme is a joint venture between the States of Jersey Police and HMP La Moye supported by various agencies such as Fire and Ambulance. These Crime and Safety Awareness Days are fun and exciting and we really feel the students get a lot out of them. The aim is education delivered in a non threatening and non lecturing manner. The scenarios are designed to be engaging, innovative and factual and give students an idea of real situations that Police Officers face.
‘We believe that by continually investing in our people, programmes and by creating additional, relevant tools which will educate and inform both parents and children, then those young people who engage in criminal and disruptive behaviour who not only undermine their own chances of success in life but can also prevent others from realising their potential, will be able to make informed life choices to help them grow into responsible citizens and reduce the devastating effects of criminal behaviour on our society.’
The Prison! Me! No Way!!! Jersey resource vehicle has become a familiar sight on the island. The specially converted Fiat Ducato van which houses a replica prison cell, enables the anti-crime message to be spread more widely around the Island and in Jersey’s schools. The van was funded by the Rotary Club of Jersey. The dedicated van can be easily driven around the Island to wherever it is needed and has become a valuable tool in the work in which the Prison! Me! No Way!!! Jersey programme is trying to achieve.
Media information:
For further details the Chairperson of Prison! Me! No Way!!! Jersey is Lesley Harrison. Lesley can be contacted on 07700 750 106.
Background:
The Prison! Me! No Way!!!! scheme was launched in Hull in 1993, ( now known as the No Way Trust in the UK ) and in 2001, it was introduced to Jersey and registered as a Jersey charity in July 2005.
The scheme is a joint initiative led by States of Jersey Police and HMP La Moye Prison officers who use a multi agency approach with many other organisations to show young people about the consequences of their actions and what could happen to them if they decide on a life of crime, such as ending up in prison. The message behind the scheme is that everyone has a choice which can affect the direction their life takes.
The Jersey scheme was founded by officers from HMP La Moye and States of Jersey Police. The scheme now employs Police Constable Karen Houston who is seconded to the charity as a dedicated co-ordinator, funded by the charity. The scheme is also heavily supported by volunteers from both the prison and police service.
Prison! Me! No Way!!! Jersey has the ongoing support of States of Jersey Police Chief Graham Power, HMP La Moye Governor Bill Millar, States of Jersey Fire and Sea Rescue Chief Officer Mark James and Chief Officer Ambulance Service John Moulin.
The Prison! Me! No Way!!! Jersey scheme is fully self funded. The charity currently has a strategic alliance and partnership agreements with the States of Jersey Home Affairs, Housing and Education Sport and Culture Departments and the Lloyds TSB Foundation Channel Islands.
The scheme has evolved tremendously over the past seven years and has various projects in place. The main project to date is the Crime and Safety awareness days during which officers go into all eight Island secondary schools and deliver a multi agency all day programme.
