Police-backed play aims to educate youths

Merseyside Police have commissioned a play to prevent young people taking part in gang crime.

‘Terriers’, written by Maurice Bessman and funded by Liverpool Unites, is performed in schools, youth clubs and to young offenders in an attempt to show the dangers and consequences of gang crime to young people.

Kelly Forshaw, who plays the role of Chelsea in the play, said: “So far we have done about 70 performances in a month, mostly in schools and youth clubs. The play aims to outline what being in a gang is really like to young people and stop youth crime.

“I play the part of Chelsea, a girl who is in the ‘Terriers’ gang but she is one of the more reluctant ones who finally decides being in a gang isn’t worth it. We use a lot of emotional devices and real life situations.”

Merseyside Police decided to commission the play following the Liverpool riots during the summer, focusing on the disturbances that were caused by youths.

DCI David James said: “The play has been a great success, we aim to educate the young people and make them aware of the dangers of gangs.

“The main message that the play delivers is that they have a choice. Life is about making the right choices and we want them to know that there is help and support there for them.

“The play has also helped to improve GCSE results as the schools have incorporated the play into the curriculum and we provide them with a CD-ROM which goes with their English GCSE coursework.”

Liverpool Unites is an organisation that was set up following the death of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones in August 2007. It began with a campaign against gun crime and soon turned into a charity that fights for a brighter future for Liverpool youths.

Forshaw added: “Since starting the play we have had so many people who have watched our performances come up to us and thank us for doing it as they have had family members who have been involved in gang crime, some of which have sadly lost their lives.”