A college is trying to ‘break down the barriers’ between students and the police as they launched a learner safety campaign this week.

Staff at Waltham Forest College in Forest Road, Walthamstow launched Safer Learner Week in support of the nationwide Anti-bullying campaign which runs until Friday (November 20).

Nearly 300 students received information on student safety around HIV and sexual health, the NHS, an opportunity to speak to child abuse investigators from the Met police and several youth groups.

The launch will be followed up with a series of workshops to help students develop strategies on how to deal with bullying, peer pressure and gangs, eSafety, road safety, knife crime, domestic violence, and forced marriages.

Jane Brueseke, from the Youth Independent Advisory Group said: “We’re delighted to be part of such an extraordinary event.

“Our main aim is to help break the barrier between young people and the police; this event has helped us in furthering our cause.”