A Kennebecasis Regional Police Force vehicle. (Staff photo)
Youth in Kennebecasis Valley have a new opportunity to share their thoughts on policing.
The KV Police Force is starting a Youth Advisory committee, and are looking for ten youth between the ages of 14 and 18 to join.
The committee will help police better understand youth issues and trends, and apply it to their long-term strategies.
Inspector Anika Becker says the police force has a lot they can learn from listening to other perspectives.
“I think sometimes adults think they have the answers to everything and we’re not tapping in to the most valuable resource we have,” she said in an interview.
“If there’s an issue involving youth I can’t see a better way to get input on that then involving the youth themselves.”
The committee will meet once a month to identify issues facing youth, generate discussion and meet with community leaders, such as members of the joint Board of Police Commissioners, the police chief, mayors, and more.
“There’s a lot of youth trends that even I’m learning about, and that we always have officers trying to stay on top of,” she said.
Becker says learning these things about youth allows police to become better involved in their lives, and make their activities and spaces safer.
She expects there to be a number of topics youth will be interested in discussing with police.
“I’m sure there’ll be some discussion about the Cannabis Act, the Liquor Control Act, traffic enforcement, and graduated licensing. I’m sure we’ll talk about issues where kids might be hanging out and getting in trouble, and what we can offer as a community to help with that,” she said.
She says not only will the committee help police learn about issues facing youth, it will teach youth a variety of skills.
“It gives kids an opportunity to meet community leaders, and voice some of their opinions and concerns, and gives them an opportunity to practice their leadership skills, their communication skills, professionalism and things that they will hopefully use moving forward into their adult life,” she said.
Youth interested in joining the committee can apply online, or in person at the station. The deadline to apply is September 6th.
