Would you accept a drink from a stranger? What would you do if you heard a fire alarm? What's wrong with playing on a building site - or drinking more than a few pints and then trying to walk home safely?
All the Year 6s in Harlow - that's top juniors in old money - have been on Crucial Crew at the Study Centre last week and this week. Organised and funded by the Safer Harlow Partnership, Crucial Crew introduces local 10 and 11 year olds to a variety of personal safety issues, and how they should respond.
I've been to Crucial Crew before, a couple of years ago, but the world changes, and so new scenarios have been introduced. There's a new activity based around 'internet grooming', as well as the more familiar ones such as electricity sub-stations, the 'beer goggles' (which distort your attempt to walk a straight line) and washing your hands thoroughly before eating or preparing food. I'm in the company of the High Sheriff of Essex, Lady Diana Kemp-Welch, who demonstrates her usual charm, intellect, and keen interest in all matters to do with young people and community safety.
The Police Community Support Officers are there in force, doing a fantastic job, as are council staff including Patrick who shows us round the ten different activities the children have to do. It's good to see new partners such as Kier Harlow making a contribution to the day - including two of the new apprentices I met last year, when they'd just started in post. One of them is talking very confidently to the children about the dangers of playing on building sites, and the other is operating the 'cherry picker' in which children are being given the opportunity of a ride while wearing their hard hats and fluorescent jackets. I'm photographed by the local press with Laurie from Year 6 on the 'cherry picker' - then there's just time for a quick bite of the buffet lunch and it's home to do some work.
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