As the Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner Candidate for Cumbria I have been speaking to a number of youth groups and organisations across the county to hear their views on crime.

I have heard lots of praise for the police and the work they do but also some criticism, especially in our towns.

To be fair much of the criticism demonstrates a lack of understanding of what the police are trying to do but undoubtedly some of it may have some substance. Whether it does or it doesn’t we have to take it seriously because young people are also the public, and we need them to be engaged in fighting crime in our communities.

Furthermore we need to do all we can to prevent our young folk from being tempted into criminal activity and to divert those who may be susceptible to the wrong influences.

In other parts of the country and notably in Cheshire, the PCC there has set up a Youth Commission to engage with young people and this has been a great way to encourage effective community involvement in wider crime issues.

If elected I intend to work with established organisations, such as the Young Farmers, NCS, Scouts and youth clubs, to develop a Cumbria Youth Commission.

The vision is to create a forum for young people between the ages of 14 to 26 to advise the PCC and Constabulary on crime issues as they are experienced and seen by young people.

I want to see them engage in special projects to get their ideas on vandalism, bullying, cyber-crime, developing technology-led neighbourhood/community/farm watch programmes and becoming involved in them.

This will not consume great resources - many of these organisations already exist - but I will bring their ideas together and perhaps hold an annual conference to help inform the Police and Crime Plan.

Above all it will be a means to engage our young people in playing a part in fighting crime in our communities and they will bring real local knowledge of what is going on in their own areas.

It may also encourage involvement in the Special Constabulary, Police Cadets and other organisations which not only deliver real value to our communities, but gives superb personal development opportunities to the young people who get involved.

Peter McCall

Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner Candidate for Cumbria