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Youths in crime hotspot offered chance to turn minds to fishing
POLICE are turning to fishing in a novel attempt to tackle anti-social behaviour in Hull – by getting teenagers hanging around the streets hooked on angling.
It seemed the idea of young men happy to while away the hours sitting patiently by a river bank waiting for a bite belonged to a bygone age.
But when Humberside Police asked teenagers in a crime hotspot what they would be rather be doing the answer was loud and clear: fishing.
Officers had been dealing with repeated calls from residents of the city's Beverley Ward about teenagers causing a nuisance in the Mizzen Road area.
Police Community Support Officer Wayne Mellors was delighted when he consulted local young people about what activities they would like to see organised for them.
One suggestion was fishing – a sport which the officer already has a passion for and believes could be a valuable tool in social reform.
Young people in the Beverley Ward are being invited to take part in a free fishing contest at Oak Park Fishing Pond from next Monday.
The event is open to anyone living in the North Hull area aged between 11 and 18. There are enough places available for 24 participants.
Mr Mellors, from Northern Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: "Anti-social behaviour in the area around Mizzen Road is a current ward priority and this event will help reduce the number of youths causing annoyance in the area.
"Many of the youths involved in trouble enjoy fishing and this event will give them an alternative to congregating on street corners or outside shops.
"As a keen angler myself, I realise it requires patience and discipline. Hopefully the free passes will lead many of the youths involved to take up fishing as a hobby themselves and give them something else to do during the day and night."
The Northern Neighbourhood Policing Team, Community Wardens, Hull Council's Oak Road Park Rangers and Anti-social Behaviour Team, The Matchman Tackle Shop, on Beverley Road, and Sainsbury's Local stores have all helped to arrange the event.
A Humberside Police spokesman said: "The event has been organised after repeated calls to police reporting youths causing a nuisance in the Mizzen Road area.
"To tackle this issue, PCSO Mellors consulted with the youths in the area what activities they would like to see organised for them. One of the suggestions was a fishing competition.
"It is hoped this event will get youths involved in constructive competition rather than taking part in anti-social activities, while also helping to build a stronger relationship between the youths and the various agencies involved."
The event will start with four qualifying events between Tuesday next week and the following Friday. Following this, the final will take place on Monday, July 27.
On each day the fishing matches will begin at 10am and run to 3pm. All youths are expected to have their own fishing equipment but, if they don’t, equipment will be provided from the community wardens.
Everyone taking part will receive a free fishing pass for the summer holidays from the park rangers, a year’s free fishing licence and free bait for the match from The Matchman Tackle Shop and a free lunch from Sainsbury’s for the day’s competition.
The top three people will share 180 worth of vouchers to spend on fishing equipment from the Matchman Tackle shop. The winner will also receive a trophy.
Any young people wanting to become involved in this event can collect entry forms from the Matchman Tackle Shop or from local community support officers.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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