KIDS ARE ALRIGHT: Chief Constable heaps praise on campaign in latest podcast

THE Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire has heaped praise on our Kids Are Alright campaign - and urged everyone to get behind its showcase event next week.

In her latest podcast, Julie Spence said: "I cannot recall ever devoting one of these to an advertisement for an event before, but there is a first time for everything.

"It demonstrates how partnerships, the community and the media can work closely together to achieve what I hope will be a pretty impressive result."

After months of planning, the campaign's showcase event takes place at the Chatteris Medieval Festival on Saturday June 27 from noon-4pm - and Mrs Spence urged everyone to make it a date in their diaries.

She said: "I'm sure you'll enjoy it, you may be surprised - and I'm pretty certain that you'll be impressed."

Mrs Spence gave her backing to the campaign "to try and kill off some of the myths and perceptions among the older generation about young people - 'they're all hoodies, thugs, lawbreakers and a nuisance'".

She added: "We also wanted to know what young people thought about the older generation, and to begin to understand what a group of teenagers - as harmless though it might be - posed a threat in the minds of those who are older and more vulnerable.

"The fact is that the majority of youth crime is committed by a tiny minority of young people. The vast majority spend their time involved in a variety of community and charity projects - many of which go unsung."

The Kids Are Alright campaign is run by the Cambs Times and Wisbech Standard in conjunction with Cambridgeshire Criminal Justice Board, Cambridgeshire County Council, Fenland District Council, Fenland Youth District Council, Connexions and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.

• For more on 'The Kids Are Alright' activities at the Chatteris Medieval Festival, turn to page 13.