POLICE in Maidstone and Malling have completed an educational pack designed to support and complement a DVD produced two years ago to emphasise to young people the consequences of committing criminal damage.

The DVD, entitled Is It Really Worth It?, is narrated by actor Shaun Williamson and follows the story of a boy caught spraying graffiti in Maidstone.

It shows him being caught on CCTV, then being arrested and taken to the local police station. It was designed specifically to demonstrate the seriousness of such a crime and further to that, the consequences.

The project was launched in 2003 at Kent Police College with the support of schools in the Maidstone area.

It is designed to fit within the citizenship curriculum and be delivered by Police Youth Crime Reduction Officers as part of their role in schools. It includes a foreword from Chief Constable Mike Fuller, background and guidance notes, modules and student activity sheets, as well as a DVD and video.

Youth Crime Reduction Officer PC Martin Carter, who led on the project said: “Since the launch of the DVD two years ago, the pack has been in use across Kent. Now, with the support of the Kent People’s Trust, I have been able to get a professional educational pack printed, which will be offered to other police forces, nationwide, to purchase for their own work within schools.”

Overall aim of the DVD and education pack is to get across to young people the consequences of their actions and for them to realise and understand what will happen to them if they commit crime. It is hoped the project could play a part in helping to reduce criminal damage generally.

PC Carter said: "Criminal damage is one of the main reasons for the arrest of young people in Maidstone but it’s also a national problem. I was asked how, as part of the policing plan, I could support the efforts to reduce criminal damage in the area, through education.

"This project started when I realised that there was nothing available ‘off the shelf’ to assist me in the classroom, to help relay this message, so I set about producing my own. ‘Is It Really Worth It?’ is the result.

"Therefore, after two years of working on this project, I am very pleased to see the final product which has been endorsed by the Chief Constable..

"I’m very grateful for all the support I have received from those who have helped with the initiative, including the schools that allowed us to trial the DVD in Maidstone.

"As much as the whole package is designed for delivery by a police officer to fit into schools citizenship curriculum for Key Stages three and four, some elements could be delivered by teachers and therefore it may be of interest to some schools, across the UK, to purchase for themselves.”