Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Peter McCall today launches RISE, an early intervention child mentoring scheme (10-17yr old) to help prevent vulnerable young people experiencing problems.

In 2021, the Constabulary’s Child Centred Policing Team (CCPT) received 1300 referrals of young people facing childhood trauma and vulnerability.  A large proportion of referrals had links to violence, with 43% of children being a victim or witnessing violence and 22% suspected of committing violence offences.

The RISE project aims to help children who are at risk of criminalisation, support them at the earliest opportunity and prevent harm. The RISE practitioners help young people to understand how trauma has affected them, manage conflict situations and develop coping strategies for when they feel under pressure. They also support children who have been exposed to criminal behaviour, demonstrated aggression towards others, unhealthy relationships and shown early signs of alcohol and drug use for example.

The PCC has committed £289,000 over two years to the project, commissioning children’s charity Barnardo’s to recruit and co-ordinate RISE practitioners across the county. All referrals to the RISE project, come from the Constabulary’s Child Centred Policing Teams.