The site will be officially launched to young people in schools and youth clubs throughout Thames Valley from Monday 21 March.

As part of the launch of Underzone there is an opportunity for young people to enter a competition to win an IPOD mini by completing a quiz on the site. We have two IPOD minis up for grabs and a £50 gift voucher which can be used in Dixons, Currys, PC World or The Link. The competition will run for three months and a draw will be held on 30 June to pick three winners.

The competition is being sponsored by the Reading Crime Prevention Panel, the John Lewis Partnership and Dixons Group plc.

Underzone is packed with advice and information geared to under 18s on keeping safe, getting help and staying on the right side of the law.

It is part of the Thames Valley Police website www.thamesvalley.police.uk/underzone , but you can also find the site via most major search engines.

Underzone is written for people under 18 and is based on questions that young people regularly ask Thames Valley Police schools officers. It gives information about police, crime and protecting yourself and your property.

Steve Deane, on behalf of the Reading Crime Prevention Panel, said: “We are happy to help our partners Thames Valley Police, in our joint bid to reduce crime and disorder.”

Rupert Thorpe, General Manager of John Lewis in High Wycombe, said: “John Lewis are always keen to support local initiatives promoting good citizenship among young people.”

Clare Brine, of Dixons Group, said, “Underzone is a really exciting project that Dixons are proud to support. Young people in the community deserve as much of a helping hand as we can give them”.

The website tries to answer questions about the law. In the Consequences section it takes young people through typical situations, the choices they have to make and the possible effect those choices will have on their future.

The site also has a Citizenship section which corresponds with certain sections of the national curriculum and can be used in schools.

PC Graham Waddington QPM, is the co-ordinator for schools officers across the Force and established the innovative Safer Schools partnerships. Graham was responsible for putting the website together. It is based around his experiences as a schools officer at Drayton School and the experiences of his schools officer colleagues.

Graham said: “This website has been written to give young people the hard facts about things I know they worry about or wonder at. We want to be able to give young people as much information as we can so that they can be independent and safe. Under 18s also have a lot of questions about law and crime. This website means they can find answers and get advice immediately and anonymously.

“I hope people will find the site informative as it is packed with really useful information. But this is only the start as the website is going to continuously evolve. We want people to email the Underzone web team with ideas of information they would like to see on the site.”