Petroc beauticians learn self-defence

Funding for safer streets in Barnstaple

Students at Petroc, the college in North Devon, have been learning self-defence tips thanks to funding from an initiative called Barnstaple Safer Streets. 

Teenagers on beauty courses at the Barnstaple campus have received practical lessons to help them manage any aggressive behaviour or threat of harm, should they encounter it. 

Led by course trainer Aaron Blake of Union Karate-Do, the female students looked at how to manage confrontation and rehearsed scenarios tailored around their course, such as dealing with potential tricky customers. There were also scenarios around nightclubs and going out at night. 

The students learned about drink spiking awareness and recognising the symptoms and danger signs, as well as safety on nights out and the importance of planning routes home.  They also received tips on how to get out of potentially dangerous situations. 

Superintendent Toby Davies, from Devon and Cornwall Police said: “We live in a beautiful part of the world, and whilst crime levels in our area remain low, many people still report feeling unsafe out and about, particularly late at night. It is important that we work together to do all we can to help people feel safe and prevent crime in our area.”

Aaron Blake, course trainer added: “Comments from the students included that the course has been amazing and really helpful, they feel more confident and also more aware of some of the dangers that are out there. They feel the learning has been done in a really fun way.”

There are plans to run more self-defence classes in the future, funded by Safer Streets and the college is offering the opportunity to more students.

Head of Student Engagement at Petroc, Sarah Samuel, said: “For our learners to benefit from self-defence classes as part of enrichment has been a fantastic opportunity, giving them strategies to help keep safe on and off the streets, but also raising levels of self-confidence, while having great fun.”

It was announced last summer that North Devon Council and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly had secured more than £500,000 to tackle antisocial behaviour and violence against women and girls in Barnstaple.

Barnstaple Town Centre Manager, Hannah Harrington, says: “When putting together the bid for Safer Streets funding we felt these lessons would help young people in our communities build their self-confidence should they ever find themselves in a situation that makes them feel worried or scared, so it is really pleasing hear the students who have taken part in these first courses recognise they are more confident."