The annual Stevenage scheme – now in its fifteenth year – started at the Bowes Lyon Centre on Monday, 14th September, and will run for two weeks, playing host to 1,500 Year 6 children, from 33 local schools.

Crucial Crew was officially declared ‘open’ by Cllr. Sue Myson, Mayor of Stevenage, who then watched each of the scenarios and talked to the organisers.

At either a morning or afternoon session, pupils go through ten different safety scenarios highlighting the dangers on building sites, rail tracks, and roads, also learning about first aid, internet safety, dog management, stranger danger, and safe medicines.

Every child receives a Certificate, a Workbook containing follow-up work, and is marked both as an individual and as part of a team for prizes, whilst the Laura Gant Award is presented to the best achieving school.

Read comments left by visiting teaching staff!

A ‘Visitors Day’ on the 22nd was well attended by senior Police Officers, the RoSPA LASER (Learning About Safety by Experiencing Risk) Accreditation Programme Manager, CSEC (Child Safety Education Coalition) personnel, and First Capital Direct Managers, Child Safety Equipment provider, amongst others.

Plans are already underway for the 2010 event and funding for this has now been secured – further information will be posted on the website as it becomes available.

Who are the people that take part and run the scenarios? Well, here they are below!

'The 'crew' of Stevenage Crucial Crew' - Picture courtesy of Herts Police

Details of the six annual schemes that currently exist in Herts - and those of a new scheme that may start next year in Borehamwood – as well as how plans for the permanent site in Stevenage are progressing – are all on this website. Plans are under way to include, a teacher resource area, and for students, an interactive area - where work may be done either in school, or at home.