Safer Bridgend Runs Crucial Crew

Organised and facilitated by School Liaison Officers PC Steve Carpenter, PC Chris Warlow, PC Jon Stewart, PC Gavin Lynch, and Minorities PCSO Jo Cawley, the partnership events sees numerous agencies from across the borough team up to deliver crime prevention and personal safety advice to children as they make the transition from primary to secondary school.

South Wales Police, South Wales Fire Service, Bridgend County Borough Council, the Forestry Commission for Wales, British Red Cross, the Bridgend Road Safety Partnership, Western Power Distribution, Welsh Women’s Aid, Bridgend Womens Aid, Cymdeithas Tai Hafan, and many more teamed up over the two week period to give over 350 safety talks to over 1500 pupils.

Each agency provides an interactive set where the children will spend 10 minutes learning how to tackle dangers and gain valuable advice such as what action to take in the event of a fire, bullying, domestic abuse, effects of alcohol, and reasons for legal purchase ages. Helpline numbers are also given to the children, such as Childline.

On Tuesday June 24th, Bridgend County Borough Mayor Jeff Tildesley officially opened the event, and then toured the Safety Zone with Bridgend Youth Mayor Lee Parker and Deputy Youth Mayor Liam Rose.

The Safety Zone is an interactive environment in the form of a mock village. It includes a street with a corner shop, police station with cell attached, forestry, electricity sub-station, a pub, building site, and a safety house. The children are encouraged to safely deal with life-like hazards, such as escaping a smoked filled room. The Mayor himself even had a go! (Pictured)

Crucial Crew was an idea originally conceived by Crime Concern and has been adopted by many local authorities and police divisions in Wales. Every primary school year 6 pupil in Bridgend borough is now invited to attend each year.