Assistant Chief Constable Bottomley Joins Schools Programme to Celebrate Ten Years

21 October 2014

The All Wales School Liaison Core Programme (AWSLCP) is celebrating 10 years as a national crime prevention programme this year. To celebrate the milestone for the Programme, a new Parents’ Section has been launched on the website Schoolbeat.org to coincide with Family Friendly Week, which runs from October 20^th–27^th. To mark the launch of the new section and celebrate the tenth birthday, the Programme invited guests including Assistant Chief Constable Lorraine Bottomley, who is the AWSLCP Programme lead and recent X Factor hopefuls The Brooks, who performed a song, to join them at Blaenavon Heritage V.C. Primary School in Torfaen on the 23^rd October.

The AWSLCP targets pupils from 5-16 years of age and is recognised as an example of best practice in Personal and Social Education. It is an unique collaboration between Welsh Government and the four Police Forces of Wales providing lessons around the themes of:- Drugs and Substance Misuse; Social Behaviour and Community and Personal Safety.

Prior to the launch, Mrs Linda Roberts, the National Coordinator for the Programme commented:

“I am very proud of the work carried out by the School Community Police Officers who deliver the Programme lessons and support every school in Wales. It is a real achievement which will reap benefits for our communities in the future.”

The Parents’ Section of the website joins the existing pupil and teacher sections. The information provided aims to give parents the opportunity to learn about the AWSLCP, what could affect their child and the Law, as well as offering advice and signposting to other specialist agencies.

Speaking at the launch, Assistant Chief Constable Lorraine Bottomley said:

“There are lots of dangers out there online and the media is often telling parents what they should be advising their children. I'm sure parents appreciate that but often they don't know what to do. I think the parents section of this website gives pointers for parents as to what advice to give to their children based upon the learning their children have had during their AWSLCP lessons.”

One parent who was able to preview the new section before the launch said:

“I was surprised with the quality of the information I found on so many topics.  The website is a one stop shop, providing extensive amounts of up to date and trustworthy information that will be of help about topics that relate to my children such as drugs, bullying and safety.”

In the last 10 years the AWSLCP has grown and developed and has achieved a high degree of professionalism. The launch of the Parents’ Section of the website marks the completion of another unique provision for the citizens of Wales. Mrs Linda Roberts summed up by saying:

“The initial steps taken in 2004 to deliver lessons in schools have led to a National Programme which now supports schools in a variety of ways. It has all been possible because of the support given by our partners. The Police, Education and Welsh Government have enabled thousands of young people to learn about making informed, positive choices for their futures. I hope that the continued development of the website will further facilitate this.”

END

PHOTOGRAPHS

The following photographs support this release. Images are available from
https://www.schoolbeat.org/en/news/programme-celebrates-ten-years/