Liberty Award for Stop and Search App Created on Apps for Good Course at High Trees

LONDON, November 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Aaron Sonson, Satwant Singh Kenth and Gregory Paczkowski have been awarded Liberty's Human Rights "Close to Home" Award for their creation of a Stop and Search App designed to make people aware of their rights.

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Receiving their award at the Southbank Centre in London this week, Aaron, Satwant and Gregory were recognised for their hard work in delivering a mobile application that empowers young people by providing them with a full breakdown of their rights in the often contentious issue of police stop and search procedures.

Much has been said and written about policing in this area, so the trio designed and built the app which enables users to upload their experience and understand what their rights are.

They met at High Trees Community Development Trust in Tulse Hill on a CDI Apps for Good course. "We are very humbled, honoured and inspired to receive this reward.  It has been a long road in developing the app to this point and a long road lies ahead as we strive to get to the point where the Stop and Search UK app fulfils its true potential," said Aaron on behalf of the group.

"We would like to thank Liberty for giving us this award and also the High Trees Community Development Trust and CDI Apps for Good for supporting us in its development - their help has been instrumental to what we have achieved."

The event was hosted by writer and broadcaster Sandi Toksvig with attendees including Benedict Cumberbatch and Rowan Atkinson, as well as the Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC MP, Gary McKinnon's mother (and 2011 winner) Janis Sharp, and race relations campaigner Doreen Lawrence.

"Liberty was honoured to celebrate the dedication, commitment and achievements of Aaron Sonson, Satwant Singh Kenth and Gregory Paczkowski," said a spokesperson for Liberty.

"Their mobile app provides important public information about individual rights and the potential abuse of police powers."

The award is not only recognition for the hard work and dedication of the three, but also for the High Trees Community Development Trust and the CDI course it hosts.

Apps for Good has not only given young people the opportunity to learn about app development and coding but also resulted in opening up employment opportunities. The course is one of the many ways in which High Trees is helping local people make a positive change to their community.

CDI Apps for Good courses will be running again early in 2013 at High Trees. For more information on attending this free course, please contact Kyle Gooding at High Trees on +44(0)20-8671-3132 or drop into St Martins Learning Centre, 220 Upper Tulse Hill, London, SW2 2NS.

SOURCE High Trees Community Development Trust