'False economy' fears as youth project faces axe

THERE are concerns the axing of a police project which worked with young people in Gloucestershire is a huge false economy amid fears it will lead to more children turning to crime.

- CARMELO GARCIA Local Democracy Reporter

The Aston Project, named after the late neighbourhood police constable Lynn Aston who died at the age of 48 in 2011, is a community focused initiative that identifies at-risk young people and links them with resources or activities within their communities.

The Gloucestershire Constabulary-managed scheme is being scrapped as the force seeks to make budget cuts to plug the £12.3m fund ing gap they face.

The constabulary is also cutting 60 staff jobs, including 30 to 40 police community support officers (PCSOs). But there are huge concerns that the move to axe the project, which provided mentors and benefited many young people in the county, is short-sighted.

Eamonn Aston, who was Lynn's husband, is among those who are extremely concerned about the decision.

"The project was renamed or given a name shortly before my wife passed away 14 years ago," he said.

"Before that it had been running for eight years and the fundamental principle behind it is to keep children out of the criminal justice sys tem."

He said Lynn and her colleagues started the project in 2003 and it helped prevent children from turning to crime.

"Lynn joined the police, quite late as a 38-year-old, and it became apparent to her very quickly that in the area she was policing in Saint Paul's and Whaddon in Cheltenham, there was a lack of activities for the children," he said.