Students take role of police officers in new Riot Training scheme

More than £800,000 is to be spent on helping to prevent young people becoming involved in violence and offending through gangs in the Thames Valley.

Meanwhile at the Thames Valley Police training centre in Oxfordshire, 30 students have been finding out how officers deal with major crowd trouble - and what goes on behind the scenes during dawn raids.

Watch the full report by Penny Silvester here:

Taking on the role of police officers, these young people were part of a simulated raid on a makeshift house to search the premises and arrest anyone found there.

It was the final part of the Action 4 Youth training day with Thames Valley Police.

These students are getting riot training.

It's to help them understand how the police work so they have better dealings with them and better communications when they are back in the community. The year long Inspiration Programme is designed to connect young people with the community.

Jenifer Cameron, Action4Youth Chief Executive:

Sarah Callaghan, Buckinghamshire County Council Education Director:

Superintendent Tim Metcalfe, Thames Valley Police:

It's a different way to try and bridge the gap between young people and the police.