Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 12/07/2005 12:15

Cornwall County Fire Brigade, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, the Prison Service, Hayle School and the Youth Offending Team are holding a ‘Prison Me No Way’ day on the 12th July 2005 at Hayle School.

Prison Me! No Way! Is a youth crime reduction programme pioneered by officers at Hull Prison in 1993. It has since grown to become one of the most innovative and rapidly advancing crime prevention and educational aids.

The aim of the day is to show the effects of crime, demonstrate how the law is there to protect and to punish and dispel myths of imprisonment. It provides the young people with opportunities to work and take time to consider how one person’s actions could adversely or positively influence others.

“The students are encouraged to be more understanding of others who may be less fortunate than themselves, to be responsible for one’s own actions and dissuading young people away from crime” explained Community Fire Safety Advisor Erin Orton
She cont: “Year nine pupils will be divided up into groups and undertake a variety of activities including: a talk by the prison service about the realities of prison life, fire control operators outlining the dangers of hoax calls, a courtroom drama scenario where the group will make a decision as to whether a fellow student is guilty of arson, details on fire investigations, a quiz by the youth offending team and a talk by the Phoenix Project and firefighters. We hope the day will demonstrate the reality of being imprisoned, and stop these young people committing crimes in the future”

Headteacher Christine Jackman added: “Enrichment activities such as these are invaluable in broadening the breadth of the school curriculum whilst at the same time providing young people new learning opportunities with immediate relevance. Our young people will learn on this day that their every action has a consequence”