PCC elections are vital for young people, regardless of voting rights

THE elections to decide Dorset’s Police and Crime Commissioner are fast approaching, so the spotlight is on the candidates to showcase what they could bring to the position.

I met with the current PCC, Martyn Underhill, for an interview and during this time he stressed the importance of the youth voice and working with young people in policing.

We are the next generation, so it's really important for us to be involved in important decision making in order to start improving our area, and the PCC is an excellent way to do this.

Within policing, there are a lot of stereotypes and barriers between the police and youth due to misconceptions and one-off experiences, which have a bad impact on the entire relationship between police and young people.

Things like the PCC can help to solve these issues by breaking down the barriers and involving young people in their plans.

This will make people realise that there is no truth behind the misconceptions they once had and it will also make young people feel more involved with their own future and more respected by adults.

Although you have to be over 18 to vote in this election, young people need to be listened to in order to improve issues regarding policing, as it is us who will be experiencing the effects of those decisions in the long-term.

There are already systems in place that involve the youth in the way policing works in Dorset, such as the PCC youth conferences and the PCC youth awards.

These are both great opportunities to see young people at their best, campaigning for what they want to see happen in Dorset.

The awards last year, especially, gave young people a fantastic experience where they realised their voices were being heard and that their achievements were recognised.

We spent the evening talking to real policemen about different issues and this helped to break down the barriers between them and young people.

This is why things such as the Police and Crime Commissioner elections are so important for everyone, not just the people who can vote.