Smith’s Wood teen’s artwork encourages others to learn from his mistakes

A group of fast-food restaurant workers who were left fearful of going to work have joined forces with the police to educate a group of young people about the consequences of their destructive behaviour.

Staff at the Castle Bromwich branch of KFC contacted police to report a group of teenagers subjecting colleagues and customers to seven months of abusive and anti-social rants.

Officers from Solihull Police viewed CCTV of the 22 incidents of anti-social behaviour and were able to identify12 offenders. But on request of the staff at the restaurant, officers pursued an alternative approach to arresting those involved.

The main protagonist, a 17-year-old from Smith’s Wood agreed to apologise for his behaviour and express his remorse by designing artwork encouraging others to learn from his mistake.

His drawing outlines ‘Racial comments can hurt the community as well as the individual, we can’t help what we are born into but we can be what we want, and hate crime hurts – it’s born out of ignorance.’

Commenting on the approach taken by police, Sergeant Imran Mirza from Solihull Police said: “Despite the barrage of abuse the members of staff were subjected to they were keen that the offenders were given the opportunity to learn from their mistakes, appreciate the impact their conduct was having, and be given the opportunity to turn their lives around.

“By adopting a community resolution approach victims get the chance to tell offenders about the real impact of their crime, to get answers to their questions that remain unanswered in the traditional justice process and get an apology.

“I met with the young man again the other day. He is a completely different person and is using this incident as a turning point in his life. He once again expressed his remorse and is changing his life for the better.”

Eight other people also agreed to sign up to Acceptable Behaviour Agreements for 12 months, a voluntary agreement outlining standards of behaviour, as part of this investigation.

Officers believe staff were targeted simply because it is the only fast food restaurant in the area where customers can dine in.

The parents of the young people all backed Sgt Mirza approach to tackling the problem.

Sgt Mirza added: “To date everyone involved has adhered to the expectations outlined in their acceptable behaviour agreements and we’ll work to ensure that this remains the case.”

Officers are now planning to use the artwork as a case study for school inputs to remind children how hate crime can affect people, along with the consequences it can have on your future.

For information and advice on hate crime, including how to report it, visit: www.report-it.org.uk.

Read the full story here: http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/latest-news/news.aspx?id=558.