New police board game to tackle yob behaviour » Communities » 24dash.com

Police will launch a board game today in a bid to tackle anti-social behaviour among children.

It is hoped the game, which features the South Yorkshire force's mascot Pc Bill, will encourage children in primary schools in the county to stay safe and to "make the right decisions in life", a force spokeswoman said.

The game, which will initially be available in schools in Sheffield and Rotherham, could be rolled out nationwide if it proves successful.

Pc Alan Hancock, who devised the game and the Pc Bill mascot, said he had been working with youngsters for around nine years and wanted to add an element of fun to the safety message.

"It's quite boring for a child for the teacher to stand in front of them and deliver a message over and over again," he said.

"We're trying to help change that.

"The mascot, and now the game, are ways of trying to put a positive picture of a police officer in young children's minds."

The game, which has been piloted for the past nine months, is loosely based on snakes and ladders and works on a similar basis to many board games, where players throw a dice and move around the board in turn.

But in this game, most of the 64 squares feature a question or instruction that deals with various issues - from talking to strangers and keeping secrets to bullying and playing with fireworks.

Teachers and parents can then encourage the children to make the right decisions about the issues, which also include anti-social behaviour, personal safety and road safety.

The board game may also be developed ahead of the summer to enable a grid to be painted in school playgrounds so children and teachers can use it outside, with pupils taking the place of the counters.

The officer, who is based at Attercliffe police station, said: "Children are the best critics. If it's rubbish they'll say so and if they like it, they'll use it."

Mr Hancock, who has a 21-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son, said he regularly played the game with his six-year-old grandson Jordan.

He says the game has worked "really well" with children from a range of backgrounds, including those with special needs and those for whom English is not their first language.

"You will never see anyone like me on The Bill," he added.

"But we're working behind the scenes with the youngsters, trying to keep them safe."

Jackie Drayton, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, said "I have met hundreds of primary school children and they tell me that they are concerned about their safety and want to live in communities that are free from crime.

"This game is a great way of helping them to think about how to reduce and avoid crime in their own lives, and how to make sure they don't get involved in anti-social behaviour as they grow up."

Copyright Press Association 2007