Dear Parent / Guardian / Carer

As the summer holidays approach, Suffolk Constabulary would like to work with you to ensure that your child is safe and behaving appropriately at all times.

We ask that you know where your child is, what they are doing and who they are associating with. Children should be allowed the opportunity to develop, explore and play, but this must not be at the expense of theirs and others safety and quality of life. As children do not always appreciate the risks in certain situations or fully understand the consequences of their behaviour; it is the responsibility of parents, guardians and carers to keep them safe. Remember the age of criminal responsibility is 10 years of age.

Derelict buildings are not appropriate play areas. As well as potentially committing offences, they are also exposing themselves to risk of significant harm or injury.

Please ensure that when your children are playing outside they do so only in appropriate, safe areas, and that they remain under the supervision of a responsible person at all times. Please show consideration for your neighbours and community and do not allow your child to become involved in anti-social behaviour.

Suffolk Constabulary will be encouraging everyone to “Stay Safe -Stay Aware” this Summer and our Safer Neighbourhood Teams, Schools Liaison Officers and Community Engagement Officers will be out and about helping to keep everyone safe by patrolling hot-spots and areas where we have received reports of anti-social behaviour. If you experience anything that you believe is anti-social behaviour, please report it by calling Suffolk Police on 101, contacting us via the online reporting section on the Suffolk Police website: www.suffolk.police.uk/contact-us/report-something or speak to an officer on patrol in your area. Always call 999 in an emergency.

We would also like to remind you how important it is to keep children safe online.   Young people routinely access social media and much of their social lives may be online. All devices (including smart phones, tablets, laptops, PCs etc.) that are internet enabled can present risks including cyberbullying, online fraud, child exploitation, grooming and ‘sexting’.  For more information about these issues and advice on keeping your children safe, please visit www.internetmatters.org or https://www.nspcc.org.uk/.

Thank you in advance for your co-operation and have a safe and happy summer break.

Ipswich Locality Inspectors                                 

Suffolk Constabulary