Braintree students litter pick for their community » Communities » 24dash.com

Students in Braintree will clear the way for a safer community next week.

This is one of dozens of activities taking place across Braintree to celebrate the Home Office's 'Not in my Neighbourhood Week', which celebrates all the work being done by local agencies to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour.

Notley High School's youth forum came up with the idea of staging a litter pick to promote the positive work young people do for their communities. The group of Year 7 and 8 pupils have been given special permission to leave their classes for an hour and clean up the area around the school and nearby park. They'll also be handing out information about 'Not in My Neighbourhood Week' to passers-by.

The students will be joined by Notley High School teachers, Essex Police's Safer Schools Partnership Officer Anna Collins and Braintree District Council's Prevention and Education Officer, Rebecca Searle-Jones.

On Wednesday, a publicity stand in George Yard will be manned by representatives from across the community safety spectrum, including Essex Police PCSOs, Braintree District Council's anti-social behaviour officers and community wardens, SEAMS - a local charity providing dispute mediation in the community, vinvolved - the national youth volunteering programme, Essex Drug and Alcohol Partnership represented by Open Road - a local drugs service and BARC (Braintree Against Retail Crime).

The group will be there to answer questions from the public and highlight the work they do to make our communities safer.

Chief Inspector Alan Gooden said: "Not in My Neighbourhood Week' is a Home Office initiative which aims to raise public awareness of all the work that is being by Essex Police, local authority and partner agencies to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, and make our communities safer.

"The events that the partnership have organised for the district of Braintree, which include taking the message to schools and a public event in George Yard, will highlight the work of Essex Police, the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, Essex Drug and Alcohol Partnership, Neighbourhood Watch schemes, Tenants and Residents' Associations, Anti-Social Behaviour Coordinators, Neighbourhood Policing Project teams, and Youth Offending Teams.

"There is an incredible amount of good work being undertaken, and by bringing this to the attention of the public, we can encourage our communities to engage with police officers and local agencies.

“In so doing, the public will continue to play their own invaluable part in reducing crime and anti-social behaviour. I am proud to be part of this initiative which will further increase understanding between professional and the public, and hopefully draw us even closer together."