HUNDREDS of young people got together in a conference to talk about what 'respect' means to them.

The first ever young people’s Respect Academy - an event fitting in with the Government’s 'Respect Agenda', about anti-social behaviour - took place at Kent County Showground, Detling, on Tuesday.

More than 400 youngsters aged between 14 and 18 took part in a day of workshops on issues around crime and anti-social behaviour.

Some of the workshops were led by the winners of the Kent Young People’s Respect Awards, run by the Kent Messenger Group and Kent Police with the support of the Home Office, Kent People’s Trust and Charlton Athletic Football Club.

The Chief Constable of Kent Mike Fuller and the chairman of Kent Police Authority Ann Barnes were both at the event, along with representatives from the Home Office and many other organisations, including Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

Mr Fuller said: "It’s important that we listen to young people’s concerns.

"They are often thought of as the perpetrators of anti-social behaviour, but 50 per cent of the ASBOs made are on older people."

* MORE DETAILS IN FRIDAY'S KENT MESSENGER.