School pupils came face-to-face with perpetrators of street crime this week at the borough's tenth Young People's Crime Conference.

Some 120 pupils from across the borough discovered what it is like to be a victim of street crime and the perpetrators heard what it is like for their victims or what it could lead to.

Two inmates from Latchmere Prison in Ham (accompanied by a police officer) spoke about their experiences as perpetrators of crime and about prison life.

Representatives from Victim Support joined the discussion, speaking about the effect of crime on victims.

Box Clever Theatre Company presented a number of scenarios on street crime, which pupils then discussed in breakout groups.

Each school group is now working on a poster on street crime.

The best poster will be produced and circulated around the borough, and the winning school will receive a digital camera and £20 vouchers for the pupils involved.

This is the tenth such event to be orgnaised on an annual basis.

It was established originally by the Police and Community Consultative Group with, this year, Inspector Barry Bishop from the council's Community Safety Partnership.

Insp Bishop, from Twickenham Police, commented: "We welcomed the opportunity to work with our partners and young people from borough schools to drive home the message that street crime is a serious matter, and that there is a need to raise awareness among young people to avoid them becoming crime victims."

Tony Arbour, Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Combating Crime, said: "We hope that this conference sent out a strong message to young people that crime does not pay.

"Any form of anti-social behaviour is a menace, and this event highlighted our determination to combat and reduce it."