Agencies link up in project to counter temptation of crime

A new project in Bradford aims to steer young people in Manningham and Girlington away from a life of crime.

Manningham And Girlington Influencing Change (Magic) has brought together the expertise and experience of various agencies in the city to help young people.

Bradford's police, firefighters, council staff and Con-Sequence, which is run by former offender Arfan Naseer who now helps young people to avoid a life of crime, have teamed up for the project.

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Magic, which will run for the next nine weeks, aims to help young people in the area make the right choices in life.

Representatives for various agencies will speak to the 20 youths about drugs awareness, vehicle crime and arson as well as citizenship, careers and volunteering.

Participants will also be given a budget of 500 and be asked to plan and carry out a community-based project.

Inspector Steve Dodds, who leads the Neighbourhood Policing Team (for Manningham and Girlington, said: "Neighbourhood Policing is very much about getting into the heart of the community and getting to know the people we serve. By getting these lads while they're still young we hope to help them make the right choices in life, away from crime and towards helping others and making their community a better place to live and work."

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The project was officially launched last night at the Carlisle Business Centre in Manningham.

During the nine weeks participants will visit a police station, watch a demonstration of the taser and see police dogs with their handlers.

They will also be given talks on car accidents, emergency response units, firearms, extremism and prison.

Towards the end of the scheme they will be treated to a day of outdoor activities such as an assault course, archery and mountain biking.

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Bhulla Singh, Bradford west area co-ordinator for Bradford Council's neighbourhood service, said: "The new community-based projects are a fantastic way of engaging youngsters. The sessions will open doorways for these youngsters and divert them away from various antisocial temptations. They will have great fun developing their enterprise skills."

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