Police are challenging up-and-coming young directors, screenwriters and actors in the Burnham-On-Sea area to tackle binge drinking and alcohol related crime in a short film competition.
The competition has been launched by Avon and Somerset Police as part of their ‘Relentless on Keeping you Safe’ campaign, which aims to keep children and young people safe this autumn.
Police in Burnham and Highbridge have teamed up with licensees, Trading Standards and the Health Authority to run the competition, which aims to encourage young people to think about the health and legal issues surrounding binge drinking, alcohol related crime and anti-social behaviour.
With prizes donated by local licensees and Trading Standards, the winners will not only walk away with a Sony Flip camera, but the top three films will be premiered at special screenings at The Ritz Cinema in Burnham-On-Sea and The Roxy in Axbridge on November 27th and 28th. The films will also be shown online.
Aimed at young people aged 11 17 in the Somerset West area, entrants should produce a three-minute film either on a camera, mobile phone or camcorder.
The closing date for entries is 1st November 2010 and entrants can email goodhealth@avonandsomerset.police.uk for an Application Pack, which includes an Information and Research Pack that highlights and informs young people on health, legal and wellbeing issues.
Sergeant Elaine Linham, who came up with the competition, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “As part of this year’s Relentless campign, which is on focussed on young people, I wanted to look at ways we could engage and educate them around some of the issues that affect them specifically, such as underage drinking and the associated risks that go with it.
“I wanted to look at not only the consequences to health but also potential alcohol induced anti-social behaviour and the vulnerability of young people when they are under the influence of alcohol. The films should look at either one or all three of these aspects.”
“We want to protect our young people but rather than lecture them, we thought the messages would better if they came from young people themselves. I would like to thank all the agencies involved for their input and help and The Ritz and The Roxy for kindly allowing us to use their premises.”
The competition is just part of a range of activities organised as part of Relentless on Keeping You Safe. The campaign has three main themes engaging with young people, protecting young people and targeting young offenders.
Police and pupils are pictured launching the video contest at Highbridge’s King Alfred School over the past week
