The youth engagement officers started their new assignments last month in Lockerbie, Moffat, Annan and Langholm academies, as well as in the other parts of Dumfries and Galloway.
Explaining more, Superintendent Mark Hollis said: “At the start of the current school term, the D&G policing division moved toward implementation of a Youth Engagement Strategy through the deployment of eight schools/youth engagement officers assigned to the 16 secondary schools across the region. The deployment of these officers provides a more consistent, flexible and resilient approach and ensures greater equity of service to all of the secondary schools in Dumfries and Galloway.”
In partnership with the council’s education department, they have drawn up a set up aims for the initiative.
And it includes building positive relationships with the approximately 8000 pupils; identifying opportunities to reduce offending, and promote wellbeing and resilience amongst young people; enhance information sharing; develop arrangements to pick up on and manage adverse childhood experiences.
Superintendent Hollis added: “Over the longer term we anticipate positive community outcomes, such as reductions in youth offending and anti-social behaviour, as well as improved attendance and attainment within schools.”
