THESE are the young people who hope to shape policing in Hampshire as part of the newly-established Youth Commission.

Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes launched the new body at his headquarters in Winchester.

The 28 young people – including five from the Basingstoke area – who applied for the posts on the commission represent youngsters from diverse backgrounds from across the county and met for the first time to draw up a list of their priorities.

A full programme of activities was arranged for the members on their first day together.

The main focus was for them to get to know each other and to come up with crime and policing ideas around the issues they may want the Youth Commission to address in their respective areas.

Mr Hayes said: “I thought this first meeting of the Youth Com-mission went exceptionally well. It provided everyone involved with an opportunity to get to know each other and to discuss the challenges they face.

“They have a shared enthusiasm to make a difference and I look forward to working with them.”

The next meeting of the Youth Commission is tomorrow and it will see the launch of the Big Con-versation – a three-month period during which the members will set out to canvass the thoughts of 2,000 young people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight through workshops, events, and informal conversations.