St Helens Police and St Helens College partnered on Thursday 27 November 2025 for a Day of Action promoting community safety and raising awareness about the risks of substance misuse.
The event formed part of an ongoing partnership approach to support young people across St Helens, promoting safe behaviours, raising awareness of youth violence, and tackling anti-social behaviour affecting our communities.
The Day of Action supported the College’s Alcohol and Drugs Awareness Month in November, providing an ideal opportunity to engage with students about the serious risks associated with ketamine and other substances.
Officers from the St Helens Town Centre team have been working closely with the College as part of a borough-wide initiative to tackle substance misuse amid growing concerns about ketamine use in the wider St Helens area. Over recent years there has been a concerning upward trend of young people experimenting with this dangerous Class B drug.
Inspector Stacey Pope of the Neighbourhood Policing Team at St Helens said:
“This Day of Action represents exactly the kind of partnership working that makes a real difference in our communities. We’re grateful to St Helens College for their proactive approach in addressing these issues and for providing such a valuable learning opportunity for their students.
Ketamine poses severe health risks to young people, causing irreversible damage to the bladder, kidneys and liver. We’re seeing young users develop chronic health conditions that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Beyond the health impacts, there are also risks of young people being drawn into the world of County Lines drug dealing.
This Day of Action is about police and partners working together to improve safety for everyone in our community. This is about education, awareness and support as much as it is about enforcement.”
The day featured a visible policing presence alongside educational sessions delivered by specialist support services. The event was also supported by other partner organisations including St Helens Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Team (YPDAAT); Change, Grow, Live (CGL); St Helens Council; the Youth Offending Team; and youth charity VIBE.
Police activity throughout the day included a mix of plain clothes and uniformed officers from local policing teams, demonstrations of knife arches and how they aim to deter weapon carrying, police dogs for high visibility patrols, and a Mounted Section presence to enhance and encourage full engagement from the students.
Simon Peirce, Chief Executive Officer and Principal of St Helens College and Knowsley Community College, commented:
“St Helens College is committed to providing students with the knowledge and support they need to make informed decisions as part of its wider health and wellbeing initiatives. Partnering with Merseyside Police and local agencies for this Day of Action has given our students the chance to hear directly about the risks of ketamine and other substances, and how to access help if they need it. It also reinforces the importance of community collaboration in tackling issues that affect young people both inside and outside of college life.”
Inspector Pope added: “The College has a significant number of Public and Uniformed Services students, and this day offered them an excellent opportunity to engage with us and our specialist teams. They’ve seen first-hand how different agencies work together to disrupt criminality and safeguard vulnerable members of the community.”
The partnership approach recognises that tackling drug-related issues requires collaboration across education, health, social care and law enforcement. By combining operational policing with educational sessions, the Day of Action aimed to disrupt criminal activity, whilst providing students with crucial information about the dangers of ketamine and how to access support if needed.
Support Services:
- For under 19s: Young People’s Drug & Alcohol Team (YPDAAT) on 01744 675 605 or visit www.sthelens.gov.uk/ypdaat
- For adults aged 19 and over: Change, Grow, Live (CGL) on 01744 410 752 or visit https://www.changegrowlive.org/service/st-helens-integrated-recovery
