DO YOU know a young person who is helping to tackle antisocial behaviour and other community problems?

If so, why not nominate them for one of our special awards.

With Kent Police and the Home Office Together campaign, the Kent Messenger Group has launched the Young People’s Respect Awards.

Our judges - police area commanders and our editors - will be looking for the most outstanding youngsters in each of the nine Kent police divisions.

Certificates will be presented to all worthy nominees and the winners will receive special prizes.

One of the nine regional winners will be chosen to receive a prize in the first Kent Police Authority Safer Kent Awards in November.

Launching the project, Kent’s Chief Constable, Mike Fuller, urged people to show their respect for those caring young people who help communities.

He said: "I am delighted to support the Kent Messenger Group in launching the Respect Awards, to highlight the contribution young people make to life in our county.

"As the name suggests, the idea behind the awards is to restore respect for young people in Kent. That is so important.

"There is a common misconception that young people are the cause of many of the problems communities in the county face. Yet as I travel around Kent to talk to residents, I never fail to be impressed by the sense of responsibility and commitment shown by the young people I meet.

"Many of them demonstrate this by actively working to make their communities better places. They tackle problems caused by anti-social behaviour, they help others in many different ways and they work to improve the local environment.

"On their own or through organised groups they demonstrate just how much they care. The troublemakers we often hear about remain in the minority."

He added: "Many of these public-spirited citizens of the future get on with it quietly, without expecting praise or recognition.

"We want to celebrate their contribution to the community – which is why we want you to tell us what they are doing and nominate them for a Respect reward."

To nominate a worthy youngster fill in the form from the link below and send it to Respect Awards, Messenger House, New Hythe Lane, Larkfield, ME20 6SG. The form is also available in all the Kent Messenger Group's paid-for titles.

Alternatively, email the information to respect@thekmgroup.co.uk. Don’t forget to include your postal address and phone number.

IT'S A FACT:

Areas of anti-social behaviour that young people in Kent perceived as problems where they lived:

* Dog mess on pavements - 72 per cent
* Rubbish/litter lying around - 64 per cent
* Groups of young people hanging around - 60 per cent
* Vandalism or graffiti - 55 per cent
* Dumped or burnt out cars - 38 per cent

Nomination form