The Young Gamers and Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) has given training to the Metropolitan Police Service’s Youth Engagement Team on identification and prevention of gaming-related harm in young people.

The initiative is part of the Met Police commitment to delivering The London Mayor’s Police & Crime Plan, which includes keeping children and young people safe. More than 50 officers from the Met Police took part in the specialised training provided by YGAM. The workshop included evidence-led and evaluated materials that will directly complement the existing youth engagement work the Met Police continues to carry out across London Boroughs.

“This training is part of an ongoing relationship between YGAM and the MET Police, building on training which was delivered earlier this year. This training is very well received by our police officers, enhancing their youth base roles working within primary, secondary schools and PRUs across London,” PS Paul Connolly, from the Metropolitan Police Service’s Youth Strategy, Engagement & Schools team, said.

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“The training provides us with the tools to help us to better understand the wider issues and consequences surrounding gambling and gaming amongst young people. Our officers gain access to high-quality resources, such as innovative activities and lesson plans for our officers to share with teachers, youth workers or even deliver for themselves with the aim of educating and safeguarding young people. Additionally, the workshop is assured which enabled our officers to receive formal recognition upon competition and further demonstrates the value of this training,” Paul Connolly added.

“We are delighted to be working with the Met Police once again. Since delivering several face-to-face training sessions for their Youth Engagement, Safer Schools and Cadets teams last year, we have taken our training online. During the training session we will share our fantastic bank of resources and activities. These have been developed to be age appropriate and facilitate purposeful conversations regarding the potential risks of gaming and gambling with the young people the Met Police work with across London,” Rebecca Mark, Head of Education Delivery (South) for YGAM, said.

“We look forward to a lasting and productive relationship with the police officers who are in the ideal position to deliver our educational and harm prevention sessions alongside teachers and youth workers,” She added.