Minister Keith Vaz invites Sutton cops to speak on antisocial behaviour (From Your Local Guardian)

Minister Keith Vaz invites Sutton cops to speak on antisocial behaviour

8:10am Thursday 22nd October 2009

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Chairman of home affairs committee Keith Vaz quizzed Sutton police about plans for an £8m futuristic walk-in centre on Thursday.

The Labour MP for Leicester East, who was invited down by Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake, asked questions about the Sutton Life Centre, designed to educate youngsters in life skills and safety.

The project has attracted criticism from some quarters since being announced last year with Conservatives raising concerns about the cost.

Mr Vaz said he was impressed by the project and invited police to speak on it at a debate on preventative antisocial behaviour problems at the home affairs select committee in the House of Commons later in the year.

During the meeting Mr Vaz asked what the estimated usage of the centre was and its financial efficacy.

He also questioned whether some children would miss out if their schools could not afford, or were unwilling to pay, the £9 per student ticket price.

Andy Brown, Life Centre marketing manager, said the Safer Sutton Partnership, which is delivering the project, intended to take children from Sutton, south London and Southern Home Counties and marketing work had already begun.

The centre would also be open seven days a week up to 10pm, increasing catchment and usage, he said.

Mr Brown said the centre would be flexible and different activities could be introduced when required.

Superintendent Chas Bailey said the Safer Sutton Partnership intended to make the centre as accessible as possible.

Supt Chas Bailey, who sits on Sutton’s domestic violence strategic group, said the forum was heavily involved in developing particular scenarios about domestic violence, which accounts for 25 per cent of all violent crime in Sutton.

He said the partnership would be “very proud” to take part in any debate in the House of Commons.

Contractors have already started work on the site of the Sutton Life Centre which will house an indoor street resembling a movie set and a multi-media studio where 360 degree projections can be screened on the walls.

The centre, delivered through Safer Sutton Partnership, will replace the Youth Centre 21 and cadet hut on Alcorn Close in Sutton.

About 40,000 young people are anticipated to visit the centre every year, with facilities open to youth groups, sport clubs and others during weekends and holidays.

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