POLICE, Crimestoppers and a girl band are preparing for another tour of schools in the Maidstone and Malling area to highlight the dangers of drugs, the consequences of crime and the benefits of healthy living.

The tour commences on January 30 and will visit 15 secondary schools across the area.

It is linked in with the well established Crimestoppers SNAP (Say No And Phone) initiative which encourages youngsters to attend dance nights which endorse an anti-drugs, anti-alcohol and anti-smoking environment.

SNAP will be teaming up with girl band, Untouched, to combine singing, dancing and factual information to pass important messages onto young people about drugs, crime and citizenship.

In a presentation which lasts about 45 minutes at each school, the group will talk about issues surrounding drugs and alcohol, as well as health, social, financial and legal implications of choosing to get involved in drugs and other crime.

They will also talk about being a victim of crime. The presentation will be targeted at Years 7 and 8 and will aim to raise awareness and show what the band have achieved by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The tour dates are as follows:

Monday, January 30: St Simon Stock School, Oakwood Park, Maidstone, Invicta Grammar School, Huntsman Lane, Maidstone.

Tuesday, January 31: Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, Cornwallis School, Linton

Wednesday, February 1, Swadelands School, Lenham, The Malling School, East Malling;

Thursday, February 2: Maidstone Grammar School, Oldborough Manor Community College, Loose.

Friday, February 2: Maplesden Noakes, Maidstone, Bower Grove School, Maidstone

Monday, February 6: Oakwood Grammar School, Maidstone, Senacre Technology Centre, Maidstone

Tuesday, February 7: Valley Park Community School, Maidstone

Wednesday February 8: Astor of Hever, Maidstone

Maidstone and Malling Youth Crime Reduction Officer PC Paul Richardson said: "We have done tours like this one before and have always had fantastic results and feedback. We are very much looking forward to working alongside Untouched, as we will be promoting some very to young people in the area.”