Youngsters will be shown the consequences of getting involved in crime with a visit to police cells and speaking to ex-convicts.
School children aged 13 to 19 will travel to Accrington police station this week where volunteers from Red Rose Recovery will talk about their experiences of prison life.
It comes after figures from Lancashire Police showed a 5.3 per cent increase in violent crimes across the borough over the last 12 months.
Hyndburn charity Ynot Aspire has teamed up with local police and other partner agencies to launch a new scheme ‘No Way Out?’ to help tackle the issues at a young age.
The team, including staff from the charity, police, Hyndburn Homes, Early Break and HMP prison officers, will also hold workshops with young people at local schools.
Sharon Burch, chief officer at Ynot Aspire, said the first workshop was held at The Hollins Technology College where year eight pupils spent a day exploring the factors involved and the consequences of violent crime.
She said: “The day takes a very real look at how easy it can be to become involved in violent crime, some of the contributing factors and the journey that could take you on from arrest to prison and beyond.
“It looks at how this can affect, not only the person involved in committing the crime but also the lives of the victim, their friends and families.”
Sharon said the workshops also include input from ex-convicts who have served life sentences and gives a ‘powerful insight into what life in prison is really like’.
Accrington PC Leonna Hopkinson said: “The sessions aim to provide young people with a realistic look at what can happen if you get involved in criminality, with meaningful insights from people who have first-hand experience.
“We hope that having this opportunity will act as a powerful deterrent for young people in the area.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw, who attended a feedback workshop with pupils last week, praised the No Way Out scheme.
He said: “I am committed to supporting prevention and early action initiatives to help young people make positive choices and steer them away from becoming involved in anti-social behaviour.
“This project is helping to achieve that and I congratulate everybody involved on its success.”
