Young people from Hitchin and across Hertfordshire are being invited to play a direct role in shaping the future of policing, crime prevention and community safety as recruitment opens for the second year of the Hertfordshire Youth Commission.

The initiative, open to people aged 14 to 25, gives young residents a platform to influence decisions, raise concerns and help inform the work of the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner.

The recruitment drive follows what organisers describe as a successful first year for the commission. Members engaged with young people across the county, published a report highlighting key concerns and produced an animation exploring knife crime and joint enterprise.

A new group of members is now being sought to bring fresh ideas, experiences and perspectives to discussions around community safety.

Those selected will help monitor progress against recommendations made during the commission's first year, continue conversations with young people in schools and communities and contribute to work tackling issues such as knife crime, personal safety and online harm.

Members will also support awareness campaigns designed to keep young people safe and build on previous engagement work using the knife crime animation created by the inaugural commission.

Schools, colleges, youth organisations and community groups are being encouraged to share details of the opportunity to ensure young people from a wide range of backgrounds can get involved.

Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, said: "The first year of the Youth Commission produced real insight through its report and a powerful animation, and that work is already helping shape our understanding of the challenges young people face.

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"We are now looking for a new group of young people who want to speak up, challenge ideas and help influence positive change in their communities and across Hertfordshire.

"If you care about making your community safer and making sure young people are heard, I would strongly encourage you to apply.

"We've seen how powerful it is when young people are given a voice and I'm excited to see what the second year of the Youth Commission achieves."

Young people interested in joining the Hertfordshire Youth Commission can apply online now.

How to apply

Applications can be submitted here: https://tinyurl.com/nwncs7cn

Young people can also find out more about the commission's first-year report and knife crime animation at: https://tinyurl.com/4pk6h49h.