A range of teenagers aged between 14 and 15 from Cleve Park School, Sidcup, spent a week at Bexleyheath police station last month, doing workshops organised by PC Iain McAllen.

It was a scheme run by the Metropolitan Police to raise awareness amongst young people, about the downfalls of considering a life in petty crime. 

McAllen said: “I started this course as a means of attempting to reduce Anti-Social Behaviour as Sidcup at the time was experiencing daily problems that had no signs of going away and was predominantly caused by young people.

“A lot of young people only know of police and their role with what they see on television or film.  They are unaware of the many different aspects of policing and roles an officer will employ daily.”

The week kicked off with the students meeting the police officers who would be their mentors for the course. 

Their first task was to answer an anonymous questionnaire on their perception of police procedures and give their views in an open forum on policing amongst young people.

One of the participants said that she felt the course was worth doing because young people don’t understand what the police do and feel they just arrest people for no reason. 

The second day went off with a bang as the students spent the morning attending a firearm display where they were able to use the judgement range, which is a state of the art piece of technology enabling firearms officers to safely train in various circumstances.

They were given fake guns, linked up to a screen and were able to 'shoot' in order to resolve the situation or try other methods like talking the suspect down.

Midweek, John Bowers, an ex-offender having spent fifteen years behind bars, spoke openly to the students about his time in prison. 

Despite being a grammar school boy with a bright future ahead of him, he left a troubled home at 14 and lived rough on the streets for two years before committing his first burglary. 

It was hunger, an open window and the need to eat, which started him on the road to depravity. 

Having never considered breaking the law before, his desperation for food made him take those first steps into what followed as years of criminal activity.

Bowers now gives talks at schools and colleges throughout the country to make people aware of the damage crime has, not only on the offender’s family but the families whose lives are damaged as a result.

He said:  “I am always careful not to glamorise crime. I paint a powerful, realistic picture of how criminal activity can impact on so many lives; along with the problems faced by offenders of all ages – particularly the young.

“I believe my talks are a mix of a distinctly ‘deterrent’ message for those young people who might be impressionable, thus vulnerable to temptation and who could so easily go on to tread the very same path as I once did.”

On Thursday, the students were taken to Gravesend where they were shown how the police prepare for large scale public disorders. 

They had the opportunity to try out anti-riot shields and try on part of the police uniform.  During the visit they were involved with some roleplays in stop and search scenarios. 

It was a week packed full with activities.  They were given talks on gang life, drugs and domestic violence, a tour of Bexleyheath custody to see what happens when someone is arrested and visited Cookham Wood young offenders institute where they were introduced to some inmates.

Local businessman, Bill Perera, franchisee of Sidcup McDonald’s, supplied food for the students  throughout the week.He invests a lot of time, effort and money in supporting local projects and said: “As a local business owner, I see first-hand the impact that training like this has on the area. 

“I strive to ensure that we help Sidcup remain a great place to live and work.  Therefore I am extremely proud to support and sponsor our local police force on this initiative, helping to ensure that our young people get the best opportunities available to them".

At the end of the week, the students alongside their families and members of Bexley Council who had sponsored the course, attended the closing ceremony.

Each participant was given a framed certificate for completing the course and a £30 Bluewater gift voucher and two of the students were given trophies for their outstanding input throughout the week.

McAllen said:  “It is my belief that knowledge and education can change or influence a person’s opinions and that policing, such a crucial and pivotal role within society, should be made available for young people to better understand this.

“I do believe that when a participant engages with the course, this will reduce the risk of further ASB issues being caused within the future and hopefully prevent young people from falling into some of the pitfalls that many do in this day and age. Thus, PRESTIGE was born and after a very successful and enjoyable first run, we hope to employ again many times in the future.”