Surrey Police: Supporting Young People Through Early Intervention and Positive Engagement

Surrey Police’s Youth Engagement Offer is helping to build safer, stronger communities by supporting children and young people through education, prevention, and early intervention.

Delivered through a strength-based and trauma-informed approach, the programme is aligned with best practice guidance from Surrey County Council and the PSHE Association. Working in partnership with Surrey Healthy Schools, Surrey County Council, and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, the offer helps young people develop resilience, strengthen wellbeing, and make positive life choices.

The Universal Youth Engagement Offer provides age-appropriate sessions for children and young people in Reception, Year 4, Year 7, College and SEND settings. These sessions equip pupils with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate challenges both inside and outside school, while promoting community cohesion and personal safety.

At the heart of the programme are Surrey Police’s Youth Engagement Officers (YEOs), who work with young people who may be vulnerable, at risk of exploitation, involved in antisocial behaviour, or in need of additional support. To enhance the learning experience, YEOs deliver professionally designed educational sessions supported by interactive resources, activities and a “Day in the Life of a YEO” video. Pupils learn about the role of a YEO, how to seek help, manage change and respond positively to challenges in their communities.

YEOs receive ongoing specialist training in child development, health-related behaviours and effective engagement techniques, ensuring they are well equipped to support schools and young people across Surrey.

This continued professional development enables officers to deliver consistent, high-quality educational experiences while building trusted relationships with children, families and education settings.

Where additional support is needed, Surrey Police also offers a Targeted Youth Engagement Programme. Funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner through the charity Eikon, the Smart Moves Building Resilience programme provides one-to-one and small-group interventions that help young people develop emotional resilience, understand the consequences of their actions, and make healthier decisions.

The programme focuses on areas such as relationships, physical and emotional wellbeing, coping strategies and positive decision-making, helping young people build the confidence and skills needed to overcome challenges.

A key part of the targeted offer is the Youth Engagement Warning (YEW) framework. This early intervention approach enables YEOs to work proactively with young people displaying concerning behaviours or experiencing increased vulnerability. Rather than being punitive, the framework is designed to educate, support and safeguard.

The YEW framework can be used to address a range of concerns, including hate incidents, knife crime, violence, unhealthy relationships, bullying, e-scooter misuse, familial conflict, youth-produced indecent images and other behaviours that may place young people at risk.

Through tailored engagement, education, signposting and referrals, YEOs help young people and families access the support they need before issues escalate, leading to better long-term outcomes.

Surrey Police also supports the Surrey Safer Communities Programme for Schools, providing free digital resources for Year 6 classrooms. These resources support the PSHE curriculum and Healthy Schools approach, helping children build confidence, stay safe, and become active and responsible members of their communities.

Working alongside education and community partners, Surrey Police is creating a consistent, collaborative and trauma-informed approach to safeguarding young people across the county.

Together, these programmes demonstrate Surrey Police’s commitment to early intervention, prevention and safeguarding. By placing children at the heart of every interaction and championing the Force’s Child-Centred Policing Strategy, Youth Engagement Officers are helping young people build resilience, improve wellbeing and achieve positive outcomes for the future.

Through education, engagement and partnership working, Surrey Police continues to empower young people to make positive choices and thrive within their communities.

Education settings can apply for Years R, 4, 7, College and SEN lessons via this link here.

Request a copy of the Safer Communities Programme Digital Teaching Resource here.