Hampshire Police chiefs have launched a campaign to get youngsters to solve problems in their communities

Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Hayes will take to the pitch at St Mary’s Stadium tomorrow to officially launch a new campaign, backed by the Daily Echo, to get youngsters taking action to improve their neighbourhoods.

Through the Be Part of the Solution campaign, he is inviting young people to promote the positive things they are already doing to solve problems in their communities, while asking others to pledge their support.

Mr Hayes is calling for individuals of all ages and youth organisations to get behind the campaign and come up with projects to help young people join the fight against crime and tackle problems in their area.

He hopes the campaign will stop young people from turning to a life of crime and improve the relationship between youngsters, the community and police.

Mr Hayes will fund Be Part of the Solution using cash from a £300,000 budget to support youth projects.

The campaign evolved from ideas put forward by the Youth Commission pilot - a team of 25 young people aged 14 to 25 – which gathered the views of 2,070 youngsters across the county on what they want from the police.

They also offered ideas on how to tackle domestic abuse, antisocial behaviour, drug and alcohol abuse, young offenders and the relationship between young people and the police.

He said: “If we can prevent crime and antisocial behaviour then we can keep young people away from the criminal justice system we actually save money in the long run because we prevent crime happening.

“The campaign is important to young people because they feel society criticise them for being the cause of crime and what was clear from the work my Youth Commission did is that young people want to be part of the solution.

“They want to support their peer group to divert them away from criminality and they want to tell them that young people want to be part of preventing crime.

This is something that we can get going as a campaign that will run into the future.

“I hope that we will give confidence to young people to take part in crime prevention initiatives.

“We will say to young people that in order to get reaction from and status in society amongst their peer groups they don’t have to commit antisocial behaviour and adults will recognise that young people can make a meaningful contribution to community.”

• SHE had been in trouble with the police since she was 15.

Casey Taylor, pictured, had been arrested for a host of offences, from swearing at officers to theft.

But now, with the support of Portswood PCSOs Helen Campbell and Bob Stafford, she has turned her life around and she is encouraging others to do the same.

The 22-year-old from Swaythling has joined the Police Crime Commissioner’s Be Part of the Solution campaign.

Casey said: “I want to put an offender’s point of view across.

“Young people that have been committing crimes can change and become positive members of society.”

Now Casey has become a voluntary youth worker for the Saints Foundation and a young ambassador for the Prince’s Trust – positions she holds alongside her two jobs, working in hospitality for Blue Funnel and as a barmaid at Shirley Warren Social Club.

• To pledge to be part of the solution, log on to bepartofthesolution.org.uk
• Follow the campaign through Twitter @BePartoftheSol or #BePartoftheSolution
• Organisations can get involved by calling the office of the Police Crime Commissioner on 01962 871 595 or emailing opcc@hampshire.pnn.police.uk
• For more information or to become a member of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Youth Commission call 01962 871 595 or email opcc@ hampshire.pnn.police.uk