Counter Terrorism Policing launch youth campaign

Counter Terrorism Policing have launched a new youth vigilance campaign entitles 'Take action, save lives.'

The campaign is aimed at 13-24 year olds and has been developed in consultation the Counter Terrorism Youth Advisory Group with insight from polling and focus groups.

The campaign features, Max Balegde, a Manchester Arena Attack Survivor and social media influencer, who has told his personal story for the first time.

The news comes as record numbers of young people are being arrested for terrorism-related offences. In the year ending December 2019 four per cent of those arrested were aged under 18, in the same period in 2022 this figure had increased to 20 per cent.

The campaign aims to encourage vigilance, empower young people to report anything that doesn’t feel right and also educate them on the signs to spot.

The campaign has already launched in Instagram and is working with @yourpolice.uk a safe space account for teenagers providing advice on a range of issues about crime, antisocial behaviour and policing.

Alex Finn, YourPolice.uk project lead, said: “The NPCC’s National Youth Engagement Programme, YourPolice.UK has been working with Counter Terrorism Policing to help raise awareness and educate young people about the signs to spot to help prevent terrorism.

“By sharing content created by CPT, and reinforcing the messaging with our own content, we hope to reach a young audience and empower them with the tools and knowledge to help policing keep their communities safe.”

Image by Thomas Ulrich from Pixabay