A SCHEME which has been educating youngsters about the dangers of crime and anti-social behaviour is celebrating its tenth birthday.

Be Safe Be Cool launched in 2007 to tackle problems with students at Woodhey High School and anti-social behaviour in the run up to Halloween and Bonfire Night.

Greater Manchester Police teamed up with Bury Council and other partners to go into the school and talk about crime and anti-social behaviour and also spread awareness of other issues.

Since then it has grown and is now in every school in the borough.

The scheme is aimed at year nine pupils and in the morning sees performing art students from Bury College put on plays about safety and other issues before workshops are held in the afternoon.

The workshops and lessons taught as part of the scheme has also been evolved to reflect the issues faced in modern society.

Carolyn Jones, from Bury police, said: “The success of the approach made other schools want to get involved.

“We have brought it up to date with the prevent message over the years about radicalisation, grooming, CSE and social media.

“We go in and talk to year nines, when they are most impressionable. That way we get the message about crime to them at the best time.”

The partnership goes into school during October, during the run up to Halloween and Bonfire Night, when police see an increase in anti-social behaviour, as the dark nights arrive and access to fireworks become easier.

Part of the success has been put down to the involvement of the college as pupils find it easier to relate to the students than they would to an adult.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Six Town Housing and Forest Bank Prison are all also involved in the scheme.

Sergeant Jones said: "It is hard to measure the results of prevention but over the years anti-social behaviour has dropped. We have changed it in a number of ways. It has been a real success."

The scheme is run in line every year with Operation Treacle, a campaign that GMP runs to highlight the dangers and consequences of anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and misuse of fireworks.

The operation also focuses on this time of year and offers online advice to make sure everyone can enjoy activities.

Advice includes always going trick or treating with an adult and to attend organised fireworks displays.

As well as advice to youngsters it advises people that you do not have to answer the door to trick or treaters if you do not want to and that you can draw your curtains and ignore them.

Anti-social behaviour can be reported on 101.