On the 18th February Street Trainers from Sceaux Gardens Estate delivered a training session for 10 members of Southwark Police. At the end of the session we asked two questions.

"What is the most important thing you have learned today?"

There are easier ways or different ways to interact with young people.

How many officers can fit in a telephone box.

That engaging with young people on their level increases their trust in us and allows them to approach us more easily – but there is still more work to be done in order for the police to be more approachable to young people when out on patrol.

Guiding someone with their eyes closed is a difficult job.

That doing silly things is fun.

How the police and youth sometimes mis-understand each other.
That you are never too old to have fun. Young people can make their own fun.

Will this change what you do in your job/how you act on the street?

Sometimes we still have to act with discipline towards youths, but seeing.

No

Definitely. I have a better understanding about how approaching them in a friendly manner, more on their level will help us to engage with them better.

Maybe in certain situations

Yes, that sometimes kids are just having fun, not out to cause trouble.

Yes. I will take more time to observe and understand what is happening before we make assumptions.

I always do try to consider whether young people are ‘having fun’ or being anti social before I act.