Wayward youngsters in Kent are being given a shock to steer them back on the straight and narrow by coming face to face with serving prisoners.
The wakeup call is the brainchild of the Swale Community Safety Partnership, who want to give teens a true taste of life on the inside.
The first session at Sittingbourne police station saw three under 16’s meet volunteers from Cookham Wood young offender’s institution – the South East’s main detention centre for under 18’s.
Judy Unsworth, project co-ordinator, told Kent Online: “It just makes them stop and realise that they are going to be locked away with all their privileges taken from them – so that in itself brings it home to them. It isn’t glamorising it in any way, shape or form”.
