Youngsters from several primary schools shared their safety concerns with senior police officers at an event organised by the Jimmy Mizen Foundation.

Children from Brampton primary in East Ham have been working closely with the Foundation for the past year and have set up a peace team with students from Years 4,5 and 6.

They were joined this morning by colleagues from New City Primary in Plaistow and Roman Road, in East Ham for an event that allowed them to raise concerns about issues that affect them.

Ian Larnder, Newham deputy borough commander for the police also took part in the event with representatives from a local Safer Neighbourhood Team, several parents and Margaret Mizen, who, together with husband Barry Mizen MBE, set up the Jimmy Mizen Foundation. The couple tragically lost their son Jimmy to violent crime in 2008 and have been building a campaign around schools‘ main safety concerns.

In addition to listing their concerns, the children from the school’s peace team spoke at length about issues relating to Brampton Park where they have noticed older children gathering, people drinking, litter and dogs without leashes.

Supt Larnder gave them feedback and advice on how to deal with such issues while the SNT representatives spoke about the action they have taken to tackle them.

Marie Hardie, assistant head teacher at the school said: “I think its really helped them (the students) to see representatives from the police and made them feel they are being listened to and their concerns being noted and that is really positive.

“In a few weeks we will be having an event in the park to take it back for ourselves if you like. We love the park and want to make it safe.”