Young people box clever to avoid crime

The Metropolitan Police Service’s (MPS) Safer Transport Command and Haringey Police hosted a boxing tournament aimed at encouraging young people to get involved in a disciplined sport and steer clear of crime.

Alexandra Palace opened its doors on June 16 for the fourth London Open Box Cup, organised by Haringey Police Community Amateur Boxing Club. The annual tournament saw 350 amateur boxers from all over the world taking part in the largest event of its kind in the UK.

Many of the young people that boxed had been referred by the youth offending service. The club aims to help young people into a disciplined sport where they can gain confidence and feel better about themselves, potentially steering them away from anti-social behaviour and helping them to make the most of their ability and become responsible citizens.

Davud Cinko, now 21, started boxing with the club aged 14 after he was referred by his school for fighting and getting into trouble with the police.

He said: “When I was at school I had an attitude and was fighting all the time. My school mentor recommended I go to the boxing club to deal with my anger issues and I have been here ever since. It keeps me busy and teaches me discipline and I have been to Ghana and Canada, opportunities I would not have been given if it wasn`t for the club.”

The event was also allied to a Youth Diversion Day on June 17, to which more than 300 young people were invited following a similar and highly successful event last year.

This year, the MPS’s Safer Transport Command, funded by Transport for London (TfL), provided activities to promote travel safety for young people which included:

•5-a-side football with Tottenham Hotspur FC; meeting officers from the dog support unit and their dogs; and finding out about joining the Volunteer Police Cadets;

•The local safer transport team holding sessions on board a double-decker bus to demonstrate what role they play in making London’s transport network safe, as well as reminding young people about TfL’s Oyster Zip Card Behaviour Code.

Detective Chief Superintendent Sandra Looby, Haringey borough commander, said: “Sport is an excellent conduit to bring young people together and instil in them a confidence, self-respect and discipline that can help them to make the best of their potential. The Haringey Police Community Amateur Boxing Club has made a tangible difference to the lives of many young people.”

PC Gerry Willmott, also a boxing coach and founder member of the Haringey Police Community Amateur Boxing Club, added: “Our boxing club gets young people off the streets and away from the risk of becoming involved in crime.

“Being part of our club means making the right choices and rejecting negative influences, through discipline, self-respect and attaining a healthy lifestyle.

“Some of the youngsters that have come to our club, like Davud, were known to police for the wrong reasons and through boxing, they have turned their lives around.”