Local Community Safety Conference focuses on young people
It’s not uncommon to hear complaints that young people are lacking in respect or that they hang about on the streets intimating local residents. But what is the reality? Are the younger generation getting a raw deal?On 9 March, Winchester Community Safety Partnership will be hosting a conference at Intech Science Centre entitled ‘Back to the Future’ which will focus on some of the issues young people face both as victims and perpetrators of crime and disorder.
The conference will be opened with a keynote presentation from Gita Sisupalan who is the policy lead for young victims and witnesses at the Office for Criminal Justice Reform; a role which sees her working closely with the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF). This will be followed by presentations from partner organisations on issues including crime, anti-social behaviour, alcohol, and domestic violence in relation to young people.
Winchester's Community Safety Partnership hopes that, by informing delegates what the issues are and what services have been provided to date, they will be inspired to challenge any existing pre-conceptions about young people.
Cllr John Cooper, Winchester City Council’s Portfolio Holder for Communities and Safety said: “There is a strong and important link between the work of the Community Safety Partnership and the Children and Young People’s Partnership. This conference demonstrates how a variety of agencies can work together closely to understand and address the issues that are affecting young people in Winchester.”