Kent Police in Medway has been helping two local schools take their hard-hitting presentations on public protection issues to a wider audience.

On Tuesday 2 February, drama pupils from the Rainham Mark Grammar School and Robert Napier School professionally recorded their presentations to film.

Tackling challenging issues

The plays focus on the issues of underage sex and knife crime and are designed to approach difficult subjects and educate others about the dangers. Once the films have been produced they will be made available as an educational tool, to be used across Medway in schools and social service areas to help safeguard others.

The presentations have been put together with the help of Detective Constable Ally Smith from Kent Police’s public protection unit and the heads of drama at the two schools: Claire Cuell at Robert Napier and Steve Mount at Rainham Mark.

Promoting children's safety 

Detective Constable Smith approached the schools to support the Medway Safeguarding Children's Board. This is a multi-agency partnership, which promotes children's safety within Medway.

She said: 'The young people involved have worked hard to deliver dramas on sensitive and difficult subjects. We have been able to offer them professional advice from a policing point of view and they have taken that on board to develop very good performances.

'It’s important that we work with these teenagers as they can help to deliver the message that carrying knives is dangerous and unnecessary.'

'Powerful performances'

Chief Superintendent Steve Corbishley, the Area Commander for Medway, added:  'Working in partnership with schools is a great way to develop children's understanding of the work Kent Police does in the community.  I’ve been very impressed by the way the students have taken on these difficult issues and delivered powerful performances.

'Young people of the same age are likely to listen to these messages and take on board the dangers that knife crime and underage sex can bring.  I hope that these performances will continue as the schools will carry on getting the support from Kent Police and agencies in the Medway Community Safety Partnership.'

Posted on: 9 February 2010