Caught in a the act of doing some good

– Bridget Brady
POLICE have rewarded Cranbourne’s first youths as part of a new ticketing program after they were caught in the act doing the right thing.
Victoria Police, in conjunction with the City of Casey, has started a program in Cranbourne to reward young people for their positive behaviour.
If spotted doing the right thing, young people will receive rewards including free tickets to community events and vouchers for local businesses.
Some Cranbourne businesses have jumped on board the program and more are encouraged to support the initiative.
Kong Kong and Nathan Wyllie were among the first youths police rewarded.
Casey youth resource officer Leading Senior Constable Brett Owen said examples of positive behaviour could include handing in lost property, helping with witness statements and providing information to police and wearing helmets.
“We are even looking at rewarding some instances where young people go against the flow such as not jaywalking when the rest of the group is,” he said.
“In most cases police are talking to young people for doing the wrong thing, unfortunately, so the program will reward them for doing well.”
City of Casey mayor Geoff Ablett said it was important to acknowledge and reward positive behaviour.
Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce (CCC) president Judy Davis said she encouraged businesses to support the program.
“If kids get told they are doing the right thing we can change the atmosphere,” Ms Davis said.
“The chamber definitely wants to support it because we believe it’s a way of increasing the positive interaction with young people.”
Senior Sergeant Daleen Spicer from Cranbourne police said the aim of the program was to encourage youth to become more community-minded citizens.
“We expect them to do the right thing, but this will give them some positive reinforcement in relation to their behaviour in the hope that the good behaviour will continue,” she said.
The initiative was developed and supported through the Cranbourne Community Plan.
It is also supported by National Australia Bank, Fitness Shack Cranbourne and Cranbourne Blue Light Disco.