Thwarting the mischief makers reaps rewards

Nov 18 2008 Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

TEENAGE volunteers have been rewarded for helping reduce crime on Mischief Night.

Inspector Simon Blackwell, of Cheshire police, presented the 50 youngsters with their certificates at Riverside College.

The Safer Halton Partnership comprises the police, fire service, the council, probation service, housing associations and community volunteers.

The partnership says the volunteers brought vital knowledge of trouble spots which helped achieve a 60% reduction in vehicle crime, a 40.9% drop in vandalism on homes, and a 55.6% drop in vehicle vandalism, on Mischief Night in Widnes.

Inspector Blackwell said: “Their involvement in the operation helped to reinforce the message that it is a minority of young people that cause problems on Mischief Night and that the majority of young people in the Widnes area are well-behaved and deplore the actions of those who choose to misbehave.”