Approximately 140 students participated in a rotation of workshops that covered topics ranging from knife crime to county lines drug trafficking. Other sessions included ‘choices’ and ‘one punch’, both of which focussed on the devastating impact that a single, split-second wrong decision can have on the lives of both the perpetrators and the victims of crime.

Perhaps one of the starkest visuals of the day came during a session on prison life thanks to the presence of a mobile cell, housed in a prison van, which offered small groups an opportunity to step inside a life-size cell. The cramped conditions, uncomfortable beds and close-proximity of a basic toilet to the area in which people are expected to eat and sleep, really hit home – dispelling any myths that prison is an easy or comfortable experience.

In their third visit to the school since May 2021, the Prison! Me! No-way! team introduced a new element to this year’s proceedings in the form of a live demonstration by search dogs belonging to the Prison Service. As valuable assets within the service, these highly skilled and well-trained animals provide the organisation with enhanced searching capabilities to sniff-out illegal substances.

Their presence at crime day events can never be fully guaranteed due to their duty commitments, so it was a real privilege for the students to see them in action.

Volunteers were given the opportunity to take part in a mock search scenario, as the dogs completed a standard exploration. To show the results of a positive search, a further volunteer was subsequently chosen to carry the scent of something detectable by the dogs.

Across all sessions, the message was clear: every young person should have the knowledge and confidence to take control; to stay safe and realise their full potential by making positive choices that avoid them becoming involved in crime.

Feedback collected after the event suggested that the messages of the day had been received loud and clear, with one student observing that what they had learned was “nothing like it is on TV” and another acknowledging their understanding that “you can get a significant amount of time (in prison) just for being there during a crime.”. Most importantly, “if you are in trouble, or someone is taking advantage of you, tell someone – don’t keep it in.”.

Neil McCunnell, Crime Day Co-ordinator, said: “Prison! Me! No-way! provides real-life learning experiences for young people, to help reduce risky behaviour and prevent them becoming involved in crime.

We want young people to think carefully about the decisions they make throughout their lives, to stay safe and continue their development into law-abiding citizens and achieve their full potential.

Personally, I had a great day at Withernsea High and it is always fantastic to return to my old school. The students were superb throughout the day and were a total credit to both themselves and to the school.”

Set-up as the Prison! Me! No Way! (PMNW) Project by three Prison Officers from HMP Hull in 1993, PMNW has operated as a registered charity; The No Way Trust Ltd, since 1995. During this time, it has worked face-to-face with over 1.2 million children and young people nationwide.

The No Way Trust provides real-life learning experiences for children and young people between the ages of 8 and 18, collectively helping young people and their communities to reduce crime, reoffending and anti-social behaviour and contribute towards creating safer communities for all.

The trust wants young people to think carefully about the decisions they make throughout their lives, stay safe, positively manage the temptations of modern society, and the increasing risks posed through social media, to develop into law-abiding citizens.

Beci Pindar, Deputy Headteacher of Withernsea High School, added: ‘I would like to thank the Prison! Me! No-Way! team for yet another successful visit to the school. Our students responded in a really positive way to the hard-hitting stories and life-lessons that were shared on the day by taking a genuine interest in the causes and consequences of crime.

With six different workshops on rotation, covering a range of contemporary issues, there was a lot for the students to take in. They handled all sessions with great maturity and will hopefully use them as a platform for reflection to ensure they remain positive members of the community.’

ABOVE: The Prison Service search dogs were a particular highlight of the day. Here we see one of the dogs in action, performing a mock routine search.

ABOVE: The mobile prison cell offered a stark visualisation of the cramped conditions prisoners are exposed to.