Lancashire Police 'yob' video in line for national award (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Lancashire Police 'yob' video in line for national award

3:28pm Monday 30th July 2012 in News

A VIDEO posted on YouTube showing a rowdy gang of pensioners to highlight the possible consequences of anti-social behaviour has been shortlisted for a national award.

The ‘Old Skool Massive’, which went viral with more than 250,000 views, has been selected as a finalist in the Chartered Institute of Public Relations PRide Awards, beating off competition from across the north west.

Created by Lancashire Constabulary’s communications department on behalf of the former Safer Lancashire Partnership, the social media campaign features seven elderly characters in a mock two-minute film.

The mischievous group were filmed drinking alcohol on a picnic bench, smashing glasses, spraying graffiti and causing a nuisance on a bowling green in East Lancashire.

At the end of the film, a message reads: “Anti-social behaviour — It’s just not funny at any age and will not be tolerated in Lancashire.”

Chief Supt Bob Eastwood said: “The campaign was designed to be creative and thought-provoking whilst getting a very serious message across that actions have consequences. Anti-social behaviour is just not funny at any age and it won’t be tolerated in Lancashire.”

The winner will be announced at a special ceremony in Manchester in November.

Former Chair of the Safer Lancashire Board, Coun David Smith, said: “It’s incredibly difficult to gain people’s attention, particularly with the amount of information we all have access to, so to have reached more than 300,000 with this very important campaign is a tremendous achievement.

“I am thrilled that the group of people behind it, and the Partnership itself, has been recognised in this way.”