Students give North Wales Police a helping hand

24 March 2009

A film depicting the work of the emergency services in the Gwersyllt area is being produced by students at Glyndŵr University.

Students are working in conjunction with North Wales Police to create a DVD that focuses on youth crime and the impact it has on the community.

Glyndŵr University were approached last summer by Wrexham Police to help produce a short 15-minute film, which is to be shown in libraries, doctors’ surgeries and housing offices.

The scheme, called ‘Project Perception’, has taken approximately a month to film, with sessions taking place every Tuesday throughout March. The final DVD is due to be released in early summer 2009.

Students studying theatre and performance, media communications, public relations, broadcasting and journalism will be involved in the production.

As part of the filming, journalism students will interview community members and past perpetrators, while theatre and performance students will act and reconstruct the crimes.

Glyndŵr University devised a competition for students to come up with a strapline for the branding of the new film. The successful slogan was ‘Unity in the Community’, and the winner was awarded the chance to spend an evening in a patrol car with Wrexham Police.

Earlier this week Borras Airfield in Wrexham provided the setting for a stunt for the film. They set fire to a car - under strict supervision by the emergency services - in order to illustrate the effects of arson and criminal damage.

Elen Mai Nefydd, Senior Lecturer in Theatre and Performance at Glyndŵr University, said: “It gives our theatre and media students the chance to work on a valuable, real-life project. We hope the video will prove an important tool in demonstrating the wide-ranging work carried out by the Community Partnership Group in the Wrexham North area. At the same time we are sure our students will gain a huge sense of achievement from having created a piece of work which will have real value in the world outside of the Glyndŵr campus.”

David Marsden, Neighbourhood Policing Sergeant for Wrexham North District, said: “This project has provided a great opportunity for the Police to work closely with the students from Glyndŵr on a very worthwhile project which we have thoroughly enjoyed. The students will have learnt some good lessons about working with different agencies on a project.

The DVD will give us a fantastic opportunity to get a strong message out about the consequences of young people getting involved in crime and disorder, but will also give out a strong reassurance message about how the Police and Fire & Rescue Service and other agencies work together to keep our communities safe. There is also a strong message to young people that there is another way, and there are other more worthwhile activities to get involved in to avoid getting caught up in crime and disorder."

The theatre and performance students have also set up a summer school this year, which will be delivered at Glyndŵr University’s new £3m performing arts and conference centre. So if you’re an aspiring actor, it’s an ideal chance to improve your skills and learn more about a career in theatre.

For more details or to book a place, call 01978 293409.

If you are interested in studying a course, why not take a look at more information about Glyndŵr University’s , and Broadcast Journalism/ courses.