This is the face of the man who is helping the police and schools bring harmony to Luton.
He met with members of Bedfordshire Police as well as headteachers on Friday morning to show them his methods for ‘reducing negative energy in communities, especially for children’.
The ‘Scary Guy’, as he is known, legally changed his name from Earl Kenneth Kaufmann in 1998 and is an inspirational speaker and has tattoos that cover 85 per cent of his body.
He has been enlisted as part of a police pilot campaign, ‘Safer Schools’, to address issues such as how to prevent becoming involved in anti-social behaviour, bullying, gangs and violent crime.
The Scary Guy said: “It’s my aim to empower children to take full responsibility for their actions. It reduces crime on the street.” He had spent two days at Putteridge High School before the meeting on Friday and headteacher Helen Beauchamp read out letters from students praising the work he had done in such a short time period.
Neighbourhood Improvement Sergeant Aaron Kiff, who organised the events, said: “It’s my hope he’s made a lasting impression on the students.” Since he started, 12 years ago, The Scary Guy has travelled all over the world and delivered his message to more than seven million people.
Last month we reported how Luton Borough Council’s Luton in Harmony scheme encouraged people to wear badges to improve community cohesion in the town.
People were also asked to sign pledge cards asking them to ‘make friends with people from different backgrounds’ and ‘promote their own beliefs in a spirit of peace and harmony’.