As the new Netflix show Adolescence grips the nation, Northumbria’s Police and Crime Commissioner is backing calls for the series to be shown in schools across the region, as supported by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer earlier this week.

The gripping series tells the story of a 13-year-old boy arrested on suspicion of murdering a female classmate. It exposes how online misogyny and sexism are radicalising men and young boys – fuelling behaviours that can lead to Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG).

Tackling VAWG is a key priority in Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Susan Dungworth’s Police and Crime Plan for safer streets and stronger communities. The delivery of educational programmes engaging men and boys to reduce harm to women and girls is a key area of work for her office.

With growing concerns among parents and teachers alike, the PCC is highlighting other free resources available to schools in the area to help educate young people and open up conversations.

Examples include:

It All Adds Up – created by Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland and funded by the PCC’s office, this free digital resource helps schools, youth groups and educators address sexual harassment and harmful attitudes through early education. DETAILS

Pol-Ed – an innovative educational programme designed to enhance learning around healthy relationships, staying safe, and understanding the law – funded by the Northumbria Violence Reduction Unit. DETAILS

Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said:

“There’s been a lot of talk about the Netflix series ‘Adolescence’, and ‘toxic masculinity’ this week and it’s an issue I am very aware of. If we don’t educate others and speak out on this topic things will only get worse. This may be a drama, but it highlights very real lessons for us all.

“As we saw with the character Jamie – misogynist toxic views can escalate into the unthinkable. It makes you think as society what more can we be doing to stop this and intervene earlier whether it’s calling out behaviours or making mental health support more accessible.

“Adolescence showed a relatable ordinary family whose life is torn apart and it highlighted how parents and schools, all of us, can be clueless about the language young people are using, what young minds are absorbing and how it’s impacting them.

She continued:

“I worry for teenagers who are regularly served up horrific content on social media apps, including violent and sexually explicit material – they say it pops up randomly – they’re being targeted through algorithms and who knows what influence it can have.

“I want to support teachers navigating this issue and that’s why my office has funded various packages to help guide lessons and discussions. I want to really build on this work, and I plan to lobby for more funding to tackle this – it’s a growing cultural crisis.

“Fortunately, we have a Government that’s acutely away of these issues and is encouraging Adolescence to be rolled out in schools to raise awareness, educate and deter young minds. Ministers are pressing on with things like the Online Harms Act and I know lots of top level conversations are being had around how we protect children from an environment that is increasing hostile and dangerous. If a TV drama helps push this work to the top of the agenda to drive change then it has to be a good thing.”

For more information around school resources made available through the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office visit: www.northumbria-pcc.gov.uk.

Or email enquiries@northumbria-pcc.gov.uk