PCC launches new education strategy to reduce risk of children being affected by crime
Matthew Barber has highlighted the importance of working in partnership to support schools and parents in protecting children and young people from crime
The aim of the strategy is to promote a consistent approach to crime education across the Thames Valley with a focus on prevention and improving trust in policing.
Matthew Barber said: “This strategy sets out my aspiration for a strong partnership between voluntary organisations, schools and other public bodies to support parents and children in order to reduce the risk of children becoming either victims of crime or becoming perpetrators of crime.”
The new education strategy recognises the vital role of crime education for young people and early intervention in schools in keeping communities safe and the OPCC will jointly work with Thames Valley Police to develop clear messages – for parents as well as children – about the risks faced by young people.
Crime Education Resource Hub and dedicated School Officers
In April 2025, a detailed online education survey was shared with education settings across the Thames Valley, receiving around 600 responses. More than half of responses noted positive engagement with Thames Valley Police, while many education settings also value police speakers at assemblies or in workshops and would like to receive more updates and information on crime and trends. The main barrier in educating students on crime cited was a lack of resources. The areas that are currently of most concern for educators are: online safety and cybercrime, bullying, peer conflict, ASB, substance misuse, county lines, sexual exploitation and grooming.
To address these needs, the OPCC is creating a Crime Education Resource Hub, which will contain an overview of projects relating to young people that are currently being funded, links to local crime data and national awareness campaigns aimed at young people as well as the contact details for the allocated Thames Valley Police School’s Officer for each secondary school and the Neighbourhood Policing Teams for primary schools. The role of the 16 School Officers is being strengthened within all secondary schools with a refreshed Safer School’s Officer Partnership Agreement to be shared in Spring 2026.
Online information and sessions in schools on main concerns from bullying to exploitation
Thames Valley Police School Officers will share crime education content with parents, through dedicated awareness raising sessions, as well as the use of school communication platforms.
This strategy is primarily aimed at young people in schools, however the Crime Education Resource Hub can also be used by home schooling parents and alternative education provisions for young people who are outside of mainstream education following exclusion.
For the 2025/2026 academic year, Thames Valley Police is focusing on educating young people with online resources for children in year 6 and in person sessions for children in year 7 and year 9 with age appropriate materials on:
Bullying, peer conflict, and anti-social behaviour (Year 6)
Knife crime and serious violence (Year 7)
Healthy relationships and exploitation (Year 9)
Head of Thames Valley Police’s Community Policing Command, Superintendent John Batty, said: “Thames Valley Police is supporting the launch of the Education Strategy alongside the Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber.
“Neighbourhood Policing Teams alongside Schools Officers continue to deliver education and early intervention within local schools and educational settings.
“We understand the difficulties in engaging with young people and believe that by introducing this new strategy, we can continue to work collaboratively with our partners to educate, support, and work together to prevent crime.”
Earlier this month, the OPCC announced new resources available to councils, schools, parents and carers as part of this education strategy under the Violence Prevention Partnership programme (VPP).
These are two videos using subject matter experts and are drawn from the lived experience of victims on online harm and child exploitation.
