Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

liskeard school at 12/02/2

****Photo Opportunity****
9.30am – 2.45pm on Tuesday 13 February 2007 at Liskeard School


Cornwall County Fire Brigade, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, the Prison Service, the Youth Offending Team and Liskeard School are holding a ‘Prison Me No Way’ day on 13 February 2007.

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. Young people 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.

Community Fire Safety Advisor Rachel Hoare added: “To support the work of the Phoenix Project, who are working closely with Liskeard School this year, and to promote the dangers of arson, we decided to hold a ‘Prison Me? No way!’ day at the school. Throughout the day year eight pupils will be divided up into groups and enjoy a variety of interactive sessions throughout the day”

She cont: “These activities include: 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, and a workshop based around criminal damage”

“Liskeard School is one of the five schools the Phoenix Project is working with. The Phoenix Project was launched in September 2002 by Cornwall County Fire Brigade. The outcomes of the Phoenix Project five day course include raising self esteem and confidence, raising aspirations, promoting school participation, improving social inclusion and reducing anti-social behaviour and alcohol misuse” said Tim Cocks, Phoenix Project Manager

A new drive to cut the level of fire-related youth crimes - such as arson, hoax calls and attacks on firefighters – will be announced nationally on 14 February 2007 by Fire Minister Angela Smith.

Cornwall County Fire Brigade continues in its efforts to drive down arson and educate young people. Community Fire Safety Advisors visit all Keystage 1 and 2 pupils with interactive presentations on fire safety, and secondary schools with the initiative Prison Me? No Way! Fire Awareness Child Education (FACE) aims to educate children who play with fire through curiosity and those children who display an undesirable affinity with fire. Trained advisors provide an interventional educational approach and aim to change children and young adults perspective from one of 'fire risk' to 'fire safety'.