ART is helping police officers have tough conversations with young people in Coventry about crime.
Officers say the Coventry UK City of Culture year has given them new opportunities to use the arts to reach new audiences to talk about challenging topics.
People aged 11 to 18 were invited into the city’s central police station to learn street art.
Local street artists Andy Clare and Michael Batchelor taught the children and young people basic techniques so they could create their own new world landscapes on boards.
After the session, police officers spoke to them about the kind of world they would like Coventry to be and their role in creating it.
They talked about the issue of violence against women and girls as survivors, witnesses and people who just want others to be safe in the city.
Sadly, all of the youngsters had experienced or witnessed this type of incident so officers gave them some techniques on how to safely challenge inappropriate behaviour and when they should report things to the police.
The issues discussed by the young people will inspire artists Michael and Andy who will create a large mural at Coventry Central police station later this year.
The young people will be invited back to help the artists create the work.
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