SOURCE: Leicestershire Police

If you can't find Lynette Rose in Coalville engaging with young people in her role as a Youth Engagement Officer, you'll find her in her walking boots in the Yorkshire Moors guiding her cadet unit through their Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Lynette joined the force five years ago as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) having previously worked at a boys' boarding school.

As her children grew up Lynette found herself with more time and without the need for a term-time role, she was looking for another job.

"I knew I didn't want to be sat in an office all day", Lynette said. "And when I heard about PCSOs role from a friend who was in the police at the time, I was really interested.

"I'm a people person and love the idea of getting out and about, becoming part of the community I was serving to help make a difference."

And Lynette did just that, now living and working the North West of the county.

When the new team of Youth Engagement Offices (YEOs) was set up last year, Lynette knew it was something she was interested in and thought she could make a difference.

She said: "I was already a cadet leader, working with young people in that way and teaching them about the way policing works.

"And with my previous experience of working with young people in the school environment, I knew I'd be a good fit for the youth team."

The team was set up in November 2021, and there are eight YEOs across the nine Neighbourhood Policing Areas (NPA).

They were given the freedom to make the roles their own and decide how they wanted to approach it based on the needs of the area.

"I was a PCSO in Coalville too, and wanted to stay there as I know the area and knew some of the crime types that are a problem," Lynette said.

"As the YEO for the NPA, I've linked in with all the secondary schools and have been going in this last school term, making sure they know my face and they know I'm a safe place to go to talk about anything that might be troubling them.

"Many of the young people ask me lots of questions about what might happen if they are found with drugs, for example – and I tell them.

"Part of the role is about of teaching them about the consequences of their actions, about nipping and bad or criminal behaviour in the bud; to stop it before it starts."

In the run up to the end of the summer term, Lynette also visited some Y6 classes in primary schools, talking to the new Y7s about her role and to expect to see her in the new term at their new schools. She also spoke to them about what anti-social behaviour is, dangerous places to play and how to stay safe during the holidays.

She said: "I'll be going into all the secondary schools in the area from September and being present for students to talk to, but also delivering workshops to the different year groups covering things like County Lines, money mules, and Knife crime."

And before all that begins in September, Lynette will be supervising young people in Derbyshire and Wales who are carrying out their Duke of Edinburgh silver and gold assessments, as well as a residential trip for the cadets to Wales.

 "I love working with young people and this role is the best of both worlds – working with those in schools and with cadets, who have more of an interest in policing themselves," Lynette said.

"I love my job, it is extremely rewarding supporting young people both in school and with their future careers and life decisions."