Results of the staying safe consultation

The Government wanted to know what you thought about their suggestions for making life safer for children and young people. They have already listened very carefully to what other children and young people have told them.  People in Government, who have the power to change things, have now heard our views. We've put them below, and also at the very bottom of this page we've popped some links to articles that help to give a bit of background information to the consultation.

When asked what being ‘safe’ meant to you, some of you said it meant:

• Knowing that nothing bad will happen to me where I am.
• That you are able to do things freely and without worry of being hurt or having your rights violated.
• That we can continue with our life without any hassle it can be mentally and physically.
• Being able to live in your living environment without being scared or afraid.
• Knowing that your family is there for you and knowing no previous incidents have happened near you.
• Being out of danger, protected and happy.

The things that you said made you feel safe in your life were:

• Living in a safe area where the crime rate is relatively low.
• My mum constantly calling me.
• My friend circle has always been very useful and my parents are very helpful in my everyday life.
• I feel I have a safe neighborhood and I have family who I can speak to.
• My parents and school are very supportive and if I am alone there is always someone else around if I have any problems.

Most of you said that you feel like you have someone to turn to or somewhere to go when you’re feeling unsafe and that these people were:

• Family
• Friends
• Teachers
• Neighbours

Some people said that sometimes they felt they didn’t know where to turn to if they felt unsafe because there wasn’t information about where people can go for help.

You though the best ways to help keep children and young people safe were:

• If you see someone looking lost or upset, ask them if they're OK. Show them where they can go and who they can go to for support e.g. the police.
• Staying together in fairly large groups and abiding by rules which comply with safety.
• Children and young people should co-operate with each other for e.g. no bullying.
• To form groups about being safe within the community.
• If they witness any bullying of any kind they should tell because it can get worse and people could get injured. They could also report groups of young people making trouble or acting suspiciously. And make sure people who are under the age of 14 aren’t on the streets after 8pm.
• Know the dangers around you and always try to be with someone else when out and about.

You had some really interesting views about whether you thought parents know enough about how to keep their children safe

• I think parents bring up their children based on how they were brought up, many people were brought up in different ways, some were left at home all the time and others were always by their parent’s side. The parents who were home alone will leave their children alone and will think that they are safe, even if they are not. My parents don’t let me go out with people they don’t know enough about or who are much older than me, they also wont let me go to parties where there might be alcohol or drugs.
• I don't think that the issue of safety is stressed enough, especially to parents. Not particularly since I suppose they trust that I wouldn't do anything that will put my life at risk, or my safety for that matter.
• Some parents might even be unaware of what their children are up to and some children might not share everything with their parents. I am not allowed out with my friends during weekends, as my parents are concerned about my safety.
  They are our parents and they generally know the different limits, these are for the child’s benefit.
• Some parents don’t have any control over their kids and some have complete and are always checking on their children, I can’t catch buses into certain places in the winter as it is dark and this stops me from doing after school clubs.
  Most parents do know how to keep they're children safe, some however don't. Up until recently I haven't been allowed out or to go anywhere with my friends because it's not safe.

You have had different experiences of how good teachers, nurses, doctors, police are at keeping you safe:

• They always ask the right questions and show interest in your life to make sure you’re OK. I think they are doing enough in my case but perhaps not for others.
• Schools generally talk about safety but speaking about it is different from acting on it. As for doctors, I don't think my GP or nurse has ever had a conversation with me on safety, nor have I ever seen a poster or flyer on the notice board covered with ones such as stop- smoking, in the hospitals or doctors surgery (and even if there were- its not noticeable).
• They provide us with several services and in my opinion some of them are doing their level best but some might not exactly be as helpful as others
• They come in to tell/teach us about how to be safe. But I do not feel an assembly would change much as there is not much interaction.
• Teachers don’t let you say your point and just give you lectures. Nurses and doctors keep me safe from diseases and illnesses and I can speak to them always. The police can tell people off and keep you safe. As they have years of experience.
• Teachers always help me and explain what we should if there is a problem and how to stay safe and I have never really had much contact with the police or doctors but police have come into school to help us and I see them around sometimes.

You though that your local community (like your neighbours )should also help to keep you safe..

• We all look out for each other and friends, if something happened to my parents, they would help us and like wise, if something happened to them, we would help them.
• Maybe having more CCTV cameras around would help (especially since Britain’s one of the most watched nations). I think CCTV naturally makes a person feel safe.
• They should support us and try to advise us in the right path.
• They should have groups within the community and they should have newsletters to warn or update us on the areas situation.
• Making sure the Neighborhood watch know what school you go to, how you get to school and back home and roughly what times so people could just check on you.

How can we keep children and young people safe while at the same time let them have the freedom to explore new things and learn about possible dangers themselves?

• Make everything safe but don’t interfere with their immediate lives.
• There were several workshops that came to schools. I know one came to my school. The workshop was called 'smartrisk' and consisted of a question time in which a young man who was disfigured appeared and explained that because of a stupid thing he did, he looks the way he does. Students can then ask any question they would like- very memorable (I still remember it from 3 years ago).
• They should have freedom but with a limit and there should be campaigns in each school about safety.
• Children should be able to explore areas in their community which means they can explore the outside world. But I think it has to all be done within the community.
• Make school buses have a rule of any rudeness or bullying the person gets kicked off the bus as they are putting peoples lives in danger.
• Have more 'Street Wises' (a place that teaches you about being safe) and encourage people to go there.

We asked how you think children and young people can learn about how to manage risks and stay safe and you said:

Be educated at a young age (reception-year4) about stranger danger, don’t go down dark alleys, be educated at an older age year 7+ about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.

Workshops in schools and possibly through citizenship classes which are being made compulsory.

As I said, campaigns in schools may be very useful.

I think schools should be more interactive with children.

Policemen could come in and give you safety lessons.

At school is a very good idea but maybe if we worked with the police more it would be easier.