News Release
Police and council net links with youngsters
Dated: 20 Oct 2009
Police and council officers in Boldon have been further strengthening links with youngsters during another friendly football match.
The Boldon Neighbourhood Policing Team, made up of police officers and Community Support Officers, spent their rest day pitting their wits against local youngsters and youth workers from the Boldon Detached Youth Project. The match, held at Boldon School, ended in a 5-4 defeat for the officers.
But more important than the score was the match helping to build on the already good links with the youngsters as well as letting them get to know their local officers and how they can be contacted - one of the aims of The Policing Pledge.
Boldon Neighbourhood Management Initiative has been running the regular football matches for over a year to help improve the health and fitness of the youngsters involved and to engage them in positive activities which channel their energy into something constructive.
This match was just one in a series against the police.
CSO Jason Wilkinson, who played in the match, said: "This was a fun event and was designed to help us to strengthen our links with youths from the area.
"We want youngsters in the area to feel comfortable in coming to speak to us and this match can only help meet this aim plus let them know who their local officers are.
"We hope more young people will contact us with any concerns as a result of events like these.
"We also hope that by organising more events in the future, this will help further reduce incidents of youth disorder which will benefit all residents and continue to build on good community and neighbourhood relations."
Councillor Joanne Bell, Lead Member for Innovation and Safer and Stronger Communities, added: "We welcome any initiative which helps to improve relations and understanding between young people and the police and encourages them to raise any concerns they may have.
"A fun, friendly football game is a great way of breaking down barriers while helping to establish good relationships and positive communications between local police officers and local young people. It also supports our approach to creating a safer South Tyneside."
Boldon Detached Youth Project is part of the Boldon Neighbourhood Management Initiative, a partnership between South Tyneside Council's Youth Service and Home Housing.
Action shots taken during a previous match