The Beat story (the second version)

London children enjoy reading their own youth magazine on safety issues and find the police are helpful.

The Beat, a magazine designed for 10 and 11 year-olds, has been launched by the Met Police and aims to help pupils explore different issues that they are concerned about.

It discusses topics such as how to handle bullying, how to react when suspecting a terrorist threat taking place, and the role of Safer Neighbourhoods Team; meanwhile, it also features stunning celebrities, role models and adventurous activities.

Jordan Stansbury, a Year six pupil from Selwyn Primary School in Waltham Forest, said: “You will find people try to bully you, the magazine is good as it tells where to ask for help and the police are helpful.”

Though Debbie Exall, aged 11, from the same Year as Jordan expressed her concern by saying: “When you call police, they don't always come up very quickly.”

Celine Ngonge, a Year six schoolmate of both Jordan and Debbie, also aged 11, said: “When you read Rihanna's story in the magazine, you realise you are not the only one to be bullied, and even the famous person has the same experience as you.

“Then you feel you are not scared, and you know other people also have such an experience.”

Apart from raising students' awareness of how to keep safe, the magazine also suggests a range of activities such as power-boating, abseiling, or scaling that pupils can take part in.

Jordan, the 11-year-old said: “These activities are quite good, I wouldn't mind to join any of them.”

Dez Gray, a dad of four children from Bethnal Green, said: “Children should be encouraged to take part in different activities and get rid of their extra energy.”

However, he also added: “These activities The Beat has featured are good, but the costly uniform required by some of the activities will turn off the children and parents, and will stop children doing these things.”

When talking about celebrities and role models, they all agreed young people want to be famous.

Canel Hassan, a Year six student aged 11 from the same school as others, said about the front page celebrity: “Young children admire him, because he is famous and then you find out he is also very good at school.”

Debbie said of the magazine overall: “The pages are very colourful and the layout is nice. When you see it, you just find it very attractive.”

Assistant Head Teacher Morag McHardy, from Selwyn Primary School, said: “I think it is really a good magazine. It raises issues children may not talk about before and stimulated lots of discussions between them.

“Young people should be empowered with confidence and knowledge to deal with risky situations.

“As parents or teachers are not always around, and they should be empowered to be responsible for themselves.”

Alaric Bonthron, Detective Superintendent from the Met Police, said: “We hope The Beat will be a fun, but useful guide for 11 year-olds as they near the end of the time at primary school.

“With summer holidays coming up, more and more young people will be out and about. We hope The Beat gives them some practical advice and tips on how to keep safe.”