Metropolitan Police Authority will ‘Listen Up’ in Islington

02/05
13 January 2005

The Metropolitan Police Authority will be attending the Islington Listen Up event at the Carling Academy in the NI Centre, Angel on 15 January 2005, 11.00am – 4.00pm, to explain to young visitors their rights if they are stopped and searched by police officers.

John Roberts, Independent Member for Lambeth and one of the MPA leads on stop and search will be part of a panel discussion at the event to answer young peoples’ questions.

John said:

“It is very important that everyone, especially young people, knows their rights if they are stopped by police. We hope that by coming along on Saturday we will be able to raise awareness about stop and search procedures by talking to visitors and handing out information.

“In November 2004, the MPA launched Recommendation 61 of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry Report which states that anyone who is stopped by police should be given a record of that stop. London is ahead of the rest of the country in doing this and we hope that by giving people a written record of why they have been stopped we will help make policing in London more accountable and transparent to all our communities.

“We are very pleased to be part of Listen Up in Islington. Islington Council ‘s young peoples’ advisory board must be congratulated for encouraging youth participation in important decisions on the borough by having a say in the issues that affect them.

“We need to meet more of London’s young communities and this event is a good opportunity to consult with young Londoners.”

Notes to editors

1. Listen Up is a project which helps children and young people participate in and be consulted about the decision making process of Islington council. Children’s and young people’s views and opinions are listened to by the council when they make decisions about the borough. The project is advised by young people who are part of Islington’s young people’s advisory board (BOYD). The project helps young people raise awareness and take action about things they want to change in Islington

2. Past projects include

• Play Centre Consultation: Listen Up worked with children at three play centres, which were facing possible closure. The children posted reasons why their play centre should stay open, on the online young people’s forum – islington.uk.net/forum – which borough councillors read.
• Library Consultation: young researchers interviewed people their own age to find out what young people would like to see happening in libraries.
• Graffiti Project: the project worked with a graffiti artist at 5 schools and adventure playgrounds, to produce large canvasses of graffiti art to raise awareness about bullying and crime.
• Rosebowl Video: young people living in the Marquess Estate made a video about the changes happening in the area they live in, and things they would like to change about the estate, to be shown to the council’s Housing and Planning department.
• Young People’s Health: Listen Up held an event at the White Lion Centre in Angel in April 2004, planned by the BOYD group. Over 125 young people attended the evening of activities and discussions, which raised young people’s awareness of sexual health and drug issues. The event also included music from up and coming local DJs, an MCing battle, freebies and the chance to question a panel that included: Garry Huggan from Islington’s Health Bus, Squami from So Solid Crew and Leroy Logan from the Black Police Association

3.The main objective of the day is to let 13-21 year olds know more about the work Listen Up does and to recruit for Islington’s Young People’s Consultation Forum and Citizen’s Panel, where young people can have a say in the decisions that affect them and their area.

The Open Day will also be an opportunity for 13-21 year olds to:

• Have their say in some of the projects currently running: Kings Cross Regeneration, A1 Borough, Anti-Social Behaviour and Crime.
• Get information on other services and projects for young people in Islington.
• Get involved in some fun activities (DJ workshops, vox pops, dance, panel discussions, henna tattoos and much more).
• Listen Up website: www.islington.gov.uk/listenup.

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