Justice in a Day begins its 2016 tour

A nationally recognised drama which deals with issues that can affect young people in their daily lives has begun its 2016 tour across North Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hundreds of teenagers aged between 13 and 15years are set to view the interactive production over the course of the next few weeks as it makes its journey across north Wales – from Theatr Clwyd in Mold to various locations including Llangefni and Dolgellau. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Now in its sixth year, the day long ‘Justice in a Day’ workshop looks at the cause and consequences of law braking – not just on the ‘offender’ but on their friends, family and wider community. Justice in a Day has been devised and developed by Emyr John, and delivered by his team of professional actors from Theatr Clwyd in Mold. It takes the young viewers on a journey which at the same time challenges them to think about real-life situations and how destructive committing crime can be. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Each year a different scenario is developed to make it as realistic and as relevant as possible” explained Dave Evans, PACT project manager at North Wales Police. “This year the production deals with knife crime, sexting, harassment and assault. It all starts when one of the 16-year-old characters gate cashes a party and the drama then develops, ending with one of the characters being sentenced in a local Magistrates Court.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After each scene, opportunities arise for the pupils to quiz the ‘characters’ about their actions and their feelings. It also allows for pupils to pose what they may feel are difficult, awkward or delving questions in a safe environment. This often develops into frank, honest and open discussions and investigation with viewers with the overall aim of deterring them from going down the route of criminality. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By the end of this year’s programme over 4,000 pupils will have taken part in Justice in a Day since it first began in 2010. And, only last year it was shortlisted and received recognition with a runner-up prize in the prestigious Howard League for Penal Reform Community Awards for its work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Winston Roddick, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, said:“I have been very impressed to witness the Justice in a Day programme for a number of years. I feel that very often the criminal justice system is a mystery to young people. They have little idea of how it works and how courts and other agencies involved in cases arrive at what are often highly complex decisions. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I think for young people to see how the criminal justice system works as a whole and how crime can affect so many people whether it is parents, victims, witnesses or the offenders themselves, will make many think seriously of the consequences of offending.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Roddick went on to say: “This is a wonderful programme and I hope to see it continue in the future. The more young people that have the chance to experience Justice in a Day the better informed they will be.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dave Evans added: “Justice in a Day is a partnership project which has constantly received positive feedback from teenage viewers and their teachers. This year’s production is no different and we hope that everyone will find it as beneficial as those who have seen it in previous years. We are delighted that the ScottishPower Foundation has once again supported this fantastic partnership programme enabling its development together with funding from secured by the North Wales Police and Community Trust. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mark Polin, Chief Constable for North Wales Police said: “I am delighted that Justice in a Day is now in its sixth year, and will have reached over 4,000 young people by the end of this year’s programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The flexibility of the programme allows Justice in a Day to address current and emerging trends that affect young people and to understand the consequences of un-lawful actions on the offender, victim, their families and the wider community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our partners at Theatr Clwyd, led by Emyr John, have developed a realistic and hard-hitting programme that has proven so successful since 2010, and brings together police, youth justice, courts and magistrates to educate young people about the consequences of crime. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am truly grateful to the ScottishPower Foundation and all the other funders and sponsors for their support in making this happen.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​