Going back to school, or moving up to a new school, can be an unsettling time for children and young people. Some will be travelling on public transport independently for the first time.

Croydon Council is working with community and voluntary organisations to make this transition as smooth as possible and to help keep young people safe.

Over the first two weeks of September, partner organisations have been visiting schools and colleges, including Croydon College, to provide support and advice about how to stay safe.

They have also provided visible patrols in the town centre and at transport hubs, including West Croydon and East Croydon stations, providing reassurance and giving students the opportunity to stop for a chat.

The work has been coordinated by the Town Centre Taskforce, a partnership between the Council, businesses, police, youth engagement services, community and voluntary organisations, health teams, and homelessness support services, who all work together to make the borough cleaner, safer and healthier.

Making Croydon’s streets safer for young people, reducing violence against women and girls, and tackling anti-social behaviour are key priorities for Executive Mayor Jason Perry.

Since the introduction of the Safer Croydon Partnership’s Community Safety Strategy and the Town Centre Taskforce, the Met Police has recorded a drop in knife crime by 24%, personal robbery by 29% and burglaries by 19%, since 2023.

Reports of anti-social behaviour in the town centre have fallen by 24% over the past three years, contributing to an overall 4.1% reduction in crime in the past year.

Led by Croydon’s Youth Safety Delivery Plan, the Council has increased funding to local partners and neighbourhood community groups to work with young people on the streets, to help keep them safe and away from violence or exploitation.

“It has been great to see our borough’s young people out and about as they start their new term, or a new school.

“It’s vital that they feel safe as they travel to and from school, which is why we have teamed up with community groups and charities to provide visible and accessible support and advice on staying safe.”

Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon

The partners involved include: