PREVIOUSLY fraught relations between youths and police in one part of Kentish Town are set to improve thanks to a new initiative. Haverstock s history of youth disorder has fuelled mistrust between youngsters and officers. In a bid to improve relations, t

PREVIOUSLY fraught relations between youths and police in one part of Kentish Town are set to improve thanks to a new initiative.

Haverstock's history of youth disorder has fuelled mistrust between youngsters and officers.

In a bid to improve relations, the ward's Safer Neighbourhoods Team is forming a youth panel to run alongside its adult citizens' panel. Sgt Danny Hewitt said: "We want to set up something sustainable which will really break down those barriers between police and young people.

"In the past, we have not made enough of an effort to talk to them. We want to show them we are not their enemies and we will go that extra mile to be accountable for what we do because their parents pay our wages. We will explain to them what our powers are and our limitations."

The youth panel is due to be launched early next year.

The adult panel has had its own problems with communications in the past. Last year, vice-chairwoman Beverley Gardner was dumped from the panel for speaking out about problems in the ward. But the youth panel is hoping to avoid any infighting and members, who include Ms Gardner's son, will start with a clean slate.

Project leader and Malden Road resident Yasmin Allen said: "Haverstock has had such a bad history of youth disorder but we have some very talented kids living here and we need to get them involved."

If any other young people aged between 10 and 21 would like

to get involved in the youth

panel, email yasmin.allen@ googlemail.com.