Top police officer to take charge of Youth Zone

One of the highest-ranking former police officers in the country has been appointed chief executive of a city's forthcoming Youth Zone.

Tim Jacques, who has spent the last six years in charge of UK counter-terrorism operations, said he hoped the Preston venue would help its users live “lives that are good for them and good for society”.

The initiative will provide sporting, musical, artistic and recreational activities for young people aged between eight and 19 – and up to the age of 25 for those with additional needs.

There are currently 14 Youth Zones in operation across the UK.

Mr Jacques said the facility would provide the kind of opportunities that were denied to many of the young people he came across for the wrong reasons during the course of his career.

He also wants the long-awaited Youth Zone to show young Prestonians that society “cares enough” about them to provide all the things that will be on offer.

Former high ranking police officer Tim Jacques has been appointed as chief executive of the initiative

It was the prospect of launching and running the facility, set to open opposite the bus station next year, that persuaded him to retire from policing after a 37-year stint.

He has spent most his career in Lancashire having started out walking the beat of his home city.

As a member of the Youth Zone’s board of trustees, Mr Jacques, who still lives in Preston, has been involved in the more than decade-long journey to realise the vision for the service and said the chance to bring it to life was “too tantalising” to pass up.

Tim is also keen to champion the broader youth support and employability work that will take place at the venue and stressed that it would be a “collaborative effort” between the Youth Zone’s charity operator OnSide and local schools, the city council and existing youth organisations already operating in Preston.