Cumbria Police Using Rugby Union to Help Cut Crime Rate

from News & Star:

Cumbrian rugby union (RFU) has enlisted the long arm of the law to reach into schools to promote the sport – and help cut crime.

Police and community support officers (PCSOs) have been learning how to teach youngsters tag rugby, earning praise from England’s Workington-born wingman Mark Cueto.

The sports development scheme is part of a link-up between the RFU and drink brand Yazoo, through which officers are trained in sports coaching.

Then, while in schools, they are using the rugby lessons to pass on personal safety messages as part of the Child Victims of Crime’s (CVOC) Tackle Safety programme.

Liam Nicholls, Cumbria’s rugby development officer, said: “We are having some real success with the tag rugby qualified PCs and PCSOs.

“Across the county officers are engaging with their local schools to deliver a double-edged programme which helps more youngsters to get a footing in rugby and at the same time gives officers a chance to strengthen their links with schools and children.

“The PCSOs have come through the CVOC programme where we have run local courses to get officers qualified. Our aim, as we move our delivery to the 16+ age group, is that the police will assist with the delivery of our tag programme to promote their community engagement.”

Sergeant Ian Jackson, of Maryport police, attended the first event and Mr Nicholls said he immediately saw the value of the course as an alternative way for officers to meet community targets.

He added: “He and PCSO Gemma Threlkeld from Appleby worked very hard to recruit officers to complete the course and now that pioneering work is bearing fruit in all parts of the county, including areas where rugby union clubs face keen competition from other sports.

“Being able to visit schools in their sports kit and build a rapport with the children via their rugby coaching enables officers to get to know the youngsters and gives officers the ideal vehicle through which to engage with children and deliver personal safety messages within CVOC’s Tackle Safety programme.”

The officers involved have been working with between four and six schools, with sessions involving between 15 and 30 children.

Over the past year, nearly 30 officers have gained their tag rugby qualification.

“The sessions are fun and enjoyable and allow the officers to interact with the young people at a completely different level to the more formal visits,” said Mr Nichols.

“The officers are delivering and making good strides and we hope to ramp this up leading to the World Cup in 2011, when hopefully we can increase their resources to promote the game in schools.”

Cueto has been taking a special interest in the scheme, as Yazoo’s tag rugby ambassador and a patron of CVOC.

He said: “I’m thrilled to see the scheme working so well in my native county.

“The success of projects like the one in Cumbria underlines what a great boost it has been to the children involved, the police force and the communities they serve.

“Smaller counties like Cumbria work so hard to promote the game and it’s great to see the Yazoo initiative bearing fruit.”

Over the last four years the RFU and Yazoo have donated balls, tag belts and other equipment to primary schools across the country.