Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire | WYPCC

Thought provoking piece wins PCC’s youth writing competition

10th September 2020

A thought provoking reverse poem has won Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner’s youth writing competition.

The piece, “Make Sure To Look All Ways” was written by 16 year old Maya Rajab from Huddersfield (and can be read in full below).

It centres around two different points of view on the police, telling one story when read from the top down and another when read from the bottom up.

The competition was launched back in June with a view to engaging and consulting more of West Yorkshire’s youth.

It saw young people aged 10 to 21 years old challenged to get creative and write a short story based on their views and experiences of policing and community safety.

The PCC’s favourite stories will now be featured on his website and social media accounts with the overall winner receiving a £100 online gift card.

Mark Burns-Williamson, said: “I was extremely impressed with Maya’s poem and it really does demonstrate such an important theme. Considering different points of view and being open minded really are crucial skills, especially in policing.

“Congratulations to Maya and a big thank you to everyone that took the time to enter the competition, we had some truly fantastic pieces and I am looking forward to sharing more of them.

“Young people may also be interested in joining my Youth Advisory Group which gives them further opportunities to voice their opinions and views on policing matters and have a more active say on how they are policed in West Yorkshire. Further information about the Group, including how to join, can be found on my website.”

 

Make Sure To Look All Ways

I don’t feel safe
So don’t try to convince me that
There are people helping to keep me feeling brave
But from what I’ve experienced and heard
There seems to be no one doing anything at all

Around and outside my home
I don’t feel protected
No longer can I say
I am 100% safe because
I don’t feel free
So don’t try to convince me
I believe and trust the police

Everyone sees them as brave and inspirational
But not us, you and I know that
People think they don’t deserve it
They are not good enough to be praised
So don’t try prove to me that
The PCC’s help create a safer environment for us


Forget about trying to make a change
So don’t try force me to
create strong connections with the neighbours
Share a positive state of mind to
Keep a cool, calm and collected behaviour and
Help all people, as it’s the most humane thing to do
Regardless of anything

(Now read from the bottom to the top)