Students acting on crime

Pictured above: Holly Lodge students from a previous year’s Act Together 

Students from Liverpool schools are producing dramatic interpretations of crime and anti-social behaviour issues.

They are taking part in Act Together, an initiative by Citysafe – Liverpool’s community safety partnership and Merseyside Police, in which they discover more about the impact of crime and anti-social behaviour on themselves and their communities through drama.

The plays are performed to their fellow students and a selection of the feeder primary schools, and are seen as a positive way of addressing community safety issues that concern young people.

The finale for this year’s Act Together will be on Thursday 26 March at St John Bosco Arts College when all the plays will be performed.

The schools taking part and their themes are:

North Liverpool Academy                              Drugs

St. John Bosco Arts College                           Alcohol

Enterprise South Liverpool Academy          E Safety

Broadgreen International School                 Anti-Social Behaviour

University Academy Liverpool                      Hate Crime

Redbridge High School                                   Environmental Crime

Broad Square Primary School                       Leaving Primary School

The schools involved in Act Together choose which theme they want to use for their play.

They then work with a specialist ‘mentor’ to develop the subject matter who helps them understand the subject area. The mentors come from different local agencies who have experience in the theme chosen by the school.

They work alongside the young people and school drama teacher to ensure that they fully understand the issues associated with their chosen topic.

Councillor Emily Spurrell, Mayoral lead for community safety, says: “Act Together has been a success story since it started in 2008. It involves about 7,000 students a year.

“It brings home to them the impact that crime and anti-social behaviour can have on individuals and families.

“As it is based on issues which young people have identified themselves it really reinforces positive messages about community safety in an imaginative way”

Chief inspector Mark Morgan, says: “Anti-social behaviour can affect whole families as well as young people. The force works with a range of partners, including Liverpool City Council, to make sure Liverpool is a safe and enjoyable place for people to both live and work.

“This project is a great way for the force to work with partners and young people to have a real impact on the local area.”