The Beat story (the third version)

A magazine for pre-teens has been launched by the Metropolitan Police to help them explore the issues that concern them most.

The Beat will handle topics such as bullying, terrorism, the role of Safer Neighbourhoods mixed with articles about celebrities, role models and leisure activities.

Jordan, a Year Six pupil at 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."

But Debbie, aged 11, in the same year as Jordan expressed her concern by saying: "When you call the police, they don't always come very quickly."

Celebrity experiences

Celine, a fellow pupil 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 a famous person has the same experiences 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 added: "These activities are quite good, I wouldn't mind doing any of them."

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

Empowering kids

"But, 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."

Assistant Head Morag McHardy, from Selwyn Primary School, said: "I think it is a really good magazine. It raises issues children may not have talked 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."