Coventry event sees young people discuss the future of policing

Young people will gather in Coventry on Monday to share their ideas on shaping the future of policing in Britain.

The event, called Hope Hack, is a national workshop for young people to discuss how they think society needs to change, but this is the first time it has focused on a single issue.

Monday’s theme is reimagining the police and will be run and hosted by people aged 15-25.

Around 100 people from five police force areas will attend the event at the Belgrade Theatre, which will include talks, debates and performances.

Participants will talk about crime and their experiences with the police and the criminal justice system. They will then be asked to solve the problems they have highlighted.

It is hoped that input from this event will inform government policy.

The West Midlands Violence Reduction Partnership (VRP), which helped organize the event, will bring together young ambassadors and teenagers who have benefited from VRP-funded projects across the region.

“Having Hope Hack in the West Midlands is a brilliant opportunity for our young people to make their views and voices heard. They are an incredibly engaged group who care about their communities,” said VRP Director Sara Roach.

Other organizations at the event include Coventry Positive Youth Foundation and the College of Policing.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster will also attend.

It will operate from 09:30 to 15:30 BST.

Hope Hacks is run by The Hope Collective, a partnership of youth organizations originally formed to support the 20th anniversary legacy campaign for Damilola Taylor, a 10-year-old boy who was murdered in 2000.