North Tyneside Council have joined forces with a national organisation to help combat anti-social behaviour in local areas.
As part of the council’s latest Operation Hotspot initiative, a group of young people from P.A.L.S, a service for excluded pupils, and members of the Youth Offending Service were given a presentation by national organisation ‘Prison? Me? No Way!’.
The service aims to take young people and show them the possible consequences of becoming involved in anti-social or criminal behaviour.
Alongside two former prison officers, who have over 70 years combined experience, they were shown around a fully furnished, life-size replica prison cell, providing an authentic jail experience.
They were also joined by former prisoner Anthony Powell, who now volunteers within the service.
Anthony gives an emotional recollection of how his sentence affected him, as well as the impacts it has had on his family and career opportunities since his release.
And as part of this presentation, former champion boxer Glenn McCrory, as well as representatives from local martial arts clubs, was on hand to talk to them about ways they could spend their time more constructively.
Set up as a project by prison officers in 1993, PMNW! has operated as the No Way Trust since 1995, and has reached more than 5 million young people through the hard work and determination of its volunteers, staff and trustees.
Operation Hotspot - a joint initiative between North Tyneside Council, Northumbria Police and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service - aims to reduce littering, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour throughout North Tyneside.
The next Operation Hotspot will take place in North Shields Town Centre from Tuesday, May 3, until Friday, May 6.
More details can be found at www.northtyneside.gov.uk.
ENDS