Kids want East End street patrols where they feel unsafe

TEENAGERS want street patrols after school in high crime areas of London’s East End where they feel unsafe. That was the message from a new school council’ charter set up to give youngsters their public voice

TEENAGERS want street patrols after school in high crime areas of London's East End where they feel unsafe.

That was the message from a new 'school council' charter set up to give youngsters their public voice.

The charter was set up at a conference of 110 young delegates from 14 Tower Hamlets schools and given the task by Tower Hamlets Council of deciding how to spend �160,000 of council tax on extra services for their neighbourhoods.

The priority, they decided, was patrols in areas where there is a high amount of crime affecting their safety going home.

The conference at Mulberry School in Shadwell, the first of its kind in Britain, was the finale to 'Local Democracy Week' highlighting how the East End's teenagers can get involved in politics and make a difference to their community.

Its aim was teaching tomorrow's movers and shakers what the organisers called 'the correct channels' to get their voices heard.