Police Chief Visits Hunter PCYC's To Discuss Strategies Targeting At-Risk Youth

BY IAN CROUCH

Assistant Commissioner, Joe Cassar is in the Hunter this week to meet with youth leaders and young people at Police Citizens Youth Clubs.

The clubs have been instrumental in turning the lives of at-risk young people around since 1937, giving them a safe and positive alternative to life on the streets.

A new draft NSW Police Force Youth Strategy outlines how police can help prevent young people from becoming victims of crime, prevent them from committing crimes and looks at ways to reduce anti-social behaviour.

Assistant Commissioner Cassar will visit the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle PCYC's on Tuesday before heading to clubs at Cessnock, Maitland, Raymond Terrace and Nelson Bay on Wednesday.

He'll be discussing local strategies and programs and the impact they are having on youth in the community.

"The visit is great opportunity to engage with local police and youth to obtain feedback on their experiences. We also have Youth Liaison Officers, supported by Specialist Youth Officers in each local area command who develop strategies to reduce juvenile crime," he said.

Assistant Commissioner Joe Cassar Picture: Illawarra Mercury

PCYC Funding for Lake Macquarie

BY JARROD MELMETH

The Police Citizens Youth Club at Lake Macquarie has received a share in almost $143,000 in funding for Youth Diversionary Projects.

The Lake Macquarie initiative is set to support at-risk youth by combining supervised recreational activities and educational workshops with evening meals and bus transport home.

The funding will also employ a specialist youth worker for the PCYC Club in Windale for a year to develop and deliver structured programs and will provide the club with entertainment facilities, including air hockey and a pool table.

NSW Minister for Police Troy Grant said the diversionary programs will take the idle time away from young people who would normally be getting up to mischief.

"We partner with government and non-government agencies to develop programs to divert young people from the criminal justice system.

"Having worked in the Lake Macquarie area Detectives office at Charlestown, I knew the area well and for a long time, it has had some socioeconomic and youth crime problems," Mr Grant said.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald said the programs will provide a supportive environment to engage at-risk youth to keep them off the streets.

"Around that Windale area, people would like to think that they have got the opportunity to engage in positive activities, good networks and good mentors.

"It provides a place for people who are having trouble at home to go and talk to some adults or their friends who are going through similar growing up challenges.

"Kids at that age need support and that is why I think it is very important that we do not overcategorize every child at that age as an issue or a problem, but sometimes you just need that little bit of positive mentoring," Mr MacDonald said.

Lake Macquarie PCYC. Source: PCYC Facebook.

Street art over tags and graffiti

BY GARY-JON LYSAGHT

Wallsend Park is now a little bit brighter after a group of young painters took their new found skills to one of the field's sheds.

Deputy Lord Mayor Jason Dunn watches the painting of the Wallsend Park mural Picture: Supplied

The youths are members of the Street Art Education Program, an initiative sponsored by NSW Juvenile Justice and the PCYC.  It is also supported by Newcastle Council.

The program was kick-started to help kerb illegal graffiti in Newcastle and aims to do so by teaching pupils new artistic skills and ways to practice their craft legitimately.

It also distinguishes illegal and legal public art and also points out the association graffiti often has with other, more serious, crimes.

Deputy Lord Mayor Jason Dunn was at Wallsend Park while the youths were at work on Wednesday, and said it will help liven up the western suburbs.

"It helps to brighten up some otherwise dull areas of Newcastle," Cr Dunn said.

"I know the piece down at Wallsend Park; I was there yesterday and met the youths involved and it's turned out fantastic.

"It's turned a very dull, dingy looking shed into a beautiful artwork and certainly brightens up the park area."

Illegal graffiti in the Newcastle LGA is currently cleaned-up by council staff at ratepayers expense.

"Removing graffiti has cost council around $640,000 in the past year," Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.

"This initiative is a way we can proactively tackle this issue and hopefully reduce annual costs."

Cr Dunn with Leanne Tillock at the Wallsend Park mural on Wednesday Picture: Supplied

Leanne Tillock from the Newcastle Juvenile Justice Community Office said the program has also taught youths about the immense costs of graffiti to their city.

"It builds a sense of pride and respect for public spaces, and reinforces pro-social beliefs about the role of graffiti art in urban culture," Ms Tillock said.