Teenagers learn consequences of anti-social behaviour

Community Safety Advisors with Kingsway Park High School students

Teenagers in Rochdale became prisoners for the day as part of a project to tackle antisocial behaviour and crime.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) visited Kingsway Park High School where Year 9 pupils were given an insight into life behind bars.

GMFRS sent along a team of Community Safety Advisors to talk to the 13 and 14-year-olds about arson, attacks on fire-fighters, fireworks safety and hoax calls, then discussed the consequences of these actions which could result in a hefty fine or a prison sentence.

The pupils were put on to a different timetable for the day and kept indoors during break times to simulate a prison situation.

There was also a truck outside with a real prison cell for the pupils to see where the prisoners sleep.

Mick Cryer, Community Fire Safety Officer for Rochdale, said: "This project is instrumental in Rochdale in driving down malicious calls, arson attacks and attacks on fire-fighters.

"We reach on average 200 kids during one of these days and if I can stop just one of those kids from setting fire to a wheelie bin for example then that would pay for the scheme.

"Rochdale is the only borough that runs this scheme and I think it should be rolled out across the organisation because it has so many benefits."

Organised by The No Way Trust, the event is funded by Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and also includes magistrates, police officers, prisoner officers and real-life prisoners.

The day-long session has taken place in six high schools across Rochdale Borough for the past three years with GMFRS taking part in every event.

Thirteen-year-old Joanna Heatly found the fire service presentation interesting. She said: "I think what the fire service does in brilliant and what they had to say was really interesting.

"I would never set fire to anything or make a hoax call because if the fire-fighters are dealing with that and there's a more serious fire they might not be able to get there and someone might die."

Ahamza Dogar, aged 14, said: "I knew arson attacks and hoax calls and attacks happened but I didn't realise the impact it has and I think that's a terrible thing. I have a lot of respect for the fire service, they do a lot of work."

Statistics show that young men aged 10 to 18-years-old are most likely to make hoax calls, attack fire-fighters and deliberately start secondary fires.

In 2011, there were 829 deliberate secondary fires in Rochdale down from 1,002 the previous year.

However the number of hoax calls in the borough increased from 200 in 2010 to 233 last year, while the number of attacks on fire-fighters stayed the same at six.