PRIMARY school pupils are helping to deliver crime prevention messages to children across the town.

A pilot project involving a group of young volunteers aged from 10 to 19 has been launched to help reduce the amount of crime in the area.

It is being organised by the town’s youth offending team and volunteers from Holy Family Catholic Primary School are taking part, as well as some older children.

Team manager Kevin Leaning said “We have teamed up with 12 young people in a pilot project that enables them to deliver their own crime prevention lessons in schools.

“They have been enthusiastic and quick to learn from the team’s early intervention workers, enabling the youngsters to go into schools and deliver their own message that crime will impact adversely on individuals, as well as family and friends.”

Training began in June, and pilot lessons have begun in schools that volunteered to take part.

Pupils have already spoken in front of classmates at Holy Family and they spoke at Ferndale Community Primary School last week.

Cyrus Williams, 11, who is one of the volunteers, said: “I think we are making a difference because we are teaching young people about the consequences of crime. It is important to tell them because some people don’t really care about getting into trouble with the police.”

Another volunteer, Kamran Muhid, 11, said: “I like going to other schools and meeting new people but actually speaking to people about their actions makes us feel more grown up because we have got a proper responsibility.”

The children were at a young people’s event at New College on Saturday, which included drama productions, music and stalls from organisations across the town.

South Swindon MP, Robert Buckland, was at the event and said he was impressed by the children’s efforts.

Young volunteer Joe Webb, 11, said: “We tell our audience about the consequences and the severity of all the crimes committed. They ask us questions too – it is quite nerve-wracking but it is good to have the other volunteers there to back you up.”

Sarah Garrett, a prevention worker with the youth offending team, said: “I am both excited, and confident, that this project will help to challenge young people’s assumptions about anti social and criminal behaviour.”