A ground-breaking project has been launched to ensure young people have a voice in how Lincolnshire is policed.

The county’s first ever Youth Commission will be established in the coming weeks to enable young people aged 14 to 25 to be consulted on policing, crime and community safety issues.

The establishment of the commission is part of Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones drive to ensure members of the community have a say in how their villages and towns are policed.

Mr Jones has already set up an online panel of more than 1,000 residents – which is consulted regularly on a range of issues.

The project, run by Leaders Unlocked on behalf of the PCC, will be recruiting between 20 and 25 young people from across the county over the summer.

It is hoped the new Youth Commission will meet for the first time in mid-September and all members will be given specific training to help them develop skills in communication, peer research, interview techniques and active listening.

The Commission will then embark on a consultation with more than 1,000 young people across the county through organised events and working with partners such as youth groups, schools and colleges.

Members will then come together to analyse the findings and develop viable recommendations for the PCC, police and partner agencies to be presented at a conference in Spring next year.

“This is a really exciting project that will give me a real opportunity to hear the experiences and concerns of young people across Lincolnshire,” said Mr Jones.

“It is absolutely crucial that to keep all out communities safe we must connect with and listen to as wide ranging groups of people as possible.

“I am a firm believer that residents should play a key role in influencing policing for their own areas and the Commission will be one a number of ways in which we will be engaging with residents.”

Leaders Unlocked is a not-for-profit specialist social enterprise that enables young people and underrepresented groups to have a stronger voice on the issues that affect their lives.

Rose Dowling, director of Leaders Unlocked, said: “We are really excited at the prospect of working in Lincolnshire and helping the county’s young people to develop a strong voice.”

To find out more and apply, visit lincolnshire-pcc.gov.uk/get-involved/youth-commission/