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Mission three: take back our streets

New City College, Greater London

In London, New City College works tirelessly to foster community cohesion, and to ensure students know how stay safe outside of college. As well as hosting charity talks on the dangers of drugs and addition and domestic abuse, they work organisations to build students’ trust and confidence in the police.

"Throughout my career, including both working in criminal justice and during my time as chair of the board of governors of a fantastic college, I’ve witnessed the important role that colleges play in building safe, cohesive local communities. At a time when some individuals and groups seek to stoke divisions in society, I’ve seen how colleges bring all parts of the community together with a common purpose and sense of belonging.

"As the new government undertakes a missions led approach, there is a real opportunity to build on this role colleges play within their communities, to unlock their full potential as a key part of the safer streets agenda.”

Nazir Afzal OBE, Former Chief Crown Prosecutor for North West England and former Chair of Hopwood Hall College

Greater Manchester colleges

In late 2023, an innovative partnership emerged between the Greater Manchester Violence Reduction Unit (GMVRU) and several Greater Manchester colleges to dismantle cycles of isolation and build a culture of inclusion, with a focus on strengthening peer-on-peer relationships. Taster fortnights, a two-week immersion programme led by welfare, safeguarding, and teaching staff—all trained in small-group and one-to-one support skills—were introduced. Many students attending these sessions had not attended school or felt uncomfortable outdoors, and were gently reintroduced to the rhythms of college life, with opportunities for social connection in a familiar setting. For these students, it’s been the difference between hesitating on the threshold and feeling safe enough to step in.

College mentors have been trained as ‘trusted adults’, providing consistent guidance, cultivating trust, and nurturing a real sense of belonging and safety. This has helped create more welcoming college campuses, reducing anxieties and reinforcing a sense of belonging both at college and on the journey there. For many, this sort of support has often felt out of reach, especially for those hesitant to ask for help, worn down by the need to repeat their stories to multiple professionals.

Recognising this strain, GMVRU has also invested in dedicated Navigators, initially set up to support young people with injuries related to violent incidents but now expanded to take direct referrals from community members concerned about youth at risk. These community and youth-based workers meet students on campus or out in the community providing one-to-one support.

"Here in Kirklees and throughout West Yorkshire, the police have long valued the important partnership we have with colleges – and they have to be at the heart of the safer streets agenda.

"The fact is that people who have access to education and training are far less likely to become involved in crime, and colleges also do a huge amount of work in interventions with people at risk of becoming either perpetrators or victims of crime too – which is impactful, unrecognised and could and should be better supported as part of the safer streets mission going forwards.”

James Griffiths, Chief Superintendent and Kirklees District Commander, West Yorkshire Police

Boston College, Lincolnshire

At Boston College, thanks to a pioneering partnership with Lincolnshire Police, students have been regularly contributing to police stop and search review panels since 2019. By reviewing and providing feedback on actual stop and search cases, students are both improving police-public relations and playing an active role in community safety and policy transparency.

To date, 300 students have participated in the panels, and while it was the uniformed public services students who benefited initially, this is now being extended to A Level students and those studying access to HE courses. As well as providing valuable real-world insight into law enforcement and the importance of accountability, the experience offers students a deeper understanding of legal frameworks, policing practices, and civil rights, while also developing critical thinking and analytical skills.

The impact on the wider community is also significant. By fostering transparency, these panels have helped to build trust between the police and local residents, particularly among younger and more diverse communities, and demonstrates that the police are open to constructive criticism and committed to fair, accountable policing practices. This model is now being rolled out nationally across the country.

The relationship with Lincolnshire Police is also extending to other projects, and discussions are currently ongoing about how the college can support the new Operation Plotting, which is targeted at reducing crime and antisocial behaviour in the area.