Teen Police Volunteer Scheme Launching At The Open

Police youth volunteers will join serving officers at next weeks' Open golf championships in St Andrews.

It is the formal launch of the Fife branch of the Police Scotland Youth Volunteer project. The youngsters, aged between 13 and 16, will help visitors with enquries and work alongside event staff. 

It began training teenagers last April, and seeks to teach citizenship and public service. Police hope to train over 1000 volunteers by the end of the year.

Youth volunteers have already worked at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Junior Ryder Cup in Blairgowrie along with a number of local policing events.

Chief Constable Sir Stephen House said: "The Open is the largest public sporting event to be held in Scotland this year and offers a fantastic opportunity for the Fife volunteers to use the skills they have already learned. Since the project began just over a year ago I have been incredibly impressed by the large number of young people taking part and the enthusiasm they have shown by helping out in their communities."

"The PSYV scheme is continuing to grow with more groups being added across the country and I am looking forward to that success continuing, allowing our young people to develop and make a positive contribution at more events like this."