YOUNGSTERS have been given a very real taste of what life is like on the wrong side of the law.

Students at the Allertonshire School in Northallerton found themselves locked up during their crime and safety awareness day.

Organised by the No Way Trust, the day involved a series of workshops and displays aimed at deterring youngsters from becoming involved in crime.

Experts from the prison, police, fire, ambulance, drug and judicial services ran each of the workshops.

Issues covered included hoax calls, behaviour on the streets, drugs, crime and stolen cars. Life in prison became reality for the students as they were given a talk while inside a mock-up cell.

They were shown a video, and played a tape made by a prisoner, and were shown exactly what a prisoner could expect during time on the inside.

A mock-up of a magistrates' court allowed students to see how a court works, and gave them a chance to hear a case acted out. Students played the defendant and witness and each class had the chance to give a verdict before the sentence was passed. Unlucky defendants were escorted out by a burly prison officer.

Students were kept in silence for parts of the day, and were only allowed freedom for lunch. They were given a half-hour period of silent exercise walking round the yard in pairs.

Every move to a new workshop was in silent pairs, closely supervised by prison officers, and by guard dogs Zak and Zeus. The dogs also demonstrated skills by showing what anyone trying to escape could expect.

Deputy headteacher Michael Stanley said: "Already we can tell from the youngsters' responses and reactions that they have gained invaluable insights and lessons from their day's experiences.

"Although some of the workshops have a distressing and powerful content, this is the harsh reality of the consequences of crime which all young citizens need to be aware of."