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Plymouth Herald 2.1.08 reports:
DON'T RUN - TALK
MATT FLEMING HERALD REPORTER
07:30 - 01 January 2008
Police have renewed appeals for young people in Plymouth who argue with their parents at this time of year to "talk - don't walk".
Following a rise in the number of children running away from home over the past 12 months across the country, youth issues officers want to prevent youths from hitting the streets during the cold winter.
The Plymouth Young Runaways project was launched earlier in the year amid fears that many runaway children become involved in crime, drugs and prostitution - as well as becoming victims of the same crimes.
Sgt Clive Collier, Plymouth youth issues manager and leader of the Plymouth Young Runaways project, said it has been going well - but there are still plenty of messages to get over to young people, particularly at this time of year.
He said: "The message we would like to get over to the young people is its better to talk - don't walk. We also want them to always let someone in the family know they are safe.
"The national 24-hour helpline for young runaways is 0808 800 7070 - with their website address at www.missingpeople.org.uk - and we want young people to know this."
Sgt Collier said the project has been a success this year. He said that in Barne Barton, North Prospect and Stonehouse the first quarter of 2007 showed a 38 per cent reduction in repeat runaways, which bucked the national trend. He said these results were now being repeated across the city.
Figures from the Children's Society reveal that each year in the UK, 100,000 children run away from home.
Persistent young runaways are seven times more likely to commit crimes than those who do not, and in as many as 40 per cent of cases young people's careers in crime begin when they are reported missing.
Plymouth police, who dealt with 1,668 missing children reports in the last 12 months, say that if the success of the new project was replicated across the city it could save them £1.4m a year in resources - and there would also be savings to social and health services as well.
The Plymouth Young Runaways team consists of two police officers, a social worker, an education welfare officer, two drugs and alcohol workers, and an officer manager. The project is funded by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.
Sgt Collier said: "The key age range for a child running away from home is between 11 and 15-years-old. There are lots of reasons for this - from simple arguments at home or with friends, to some of the more complicated issues such as abuse.
"We just want to get the message across that any child - whatever the reason - can call the national helpline. They don't need to walk - they can talk."
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