Home Office recognition for anti-crime initiative

From left, front row, PC Paul Caswell, NELC Executive Director of Community Services, Andrew Milner, Development Services Manager, Mark Cullum, Senior Sports Development Officer, Rob Allison, and Head of Tourism and Leisure, Chris Jones.

A CRUCIAL crime-cutting project in North East Lincolnshire has received national recognition.

Since it was set up in July 2007, the Sport Lincs programme has been responsible for massive reductions in crime and anti-social behaviour.

It has now been named as the regional winner of the Home Office Tilley award, which rewards innovative crime prevention programmes.

Thousands of young people have taken part in the activities offered by the project, including the Fair Play football league, the Get Hooked on Fishing scheme and a number of street dance groups.

During 2008 and 2009, reports of anti-social behaviour fell by 25 per cent, compared with the previous year.

And since April 1 this year, anti-social behaviour has dropped by 64 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Representatives from the partnership will travel to London in October, when an overall winner will be announced at the UK Problem Oriented Partnerships Conference.

Youth diversionary officer PC Paul Caswell said: "For a police officer, it is an honor to be recognised with a Home Office crime-reduction award, especially as we were up against big city forces across Yorkshire and Humberside.

"But the biggest thanks need to go to the youngsters that have made this project their own. We engage more than 1,000 young people every week across every estate and neighborhood in North East Lincolnshire."

NELC'S sports development manager Mark Cullum said: "This is a fantastic achievement for sport and young people in our area. The partnership has achieved something very special by engaging local young people in a range of sports activities resulting in significant reductions in youth-related crime and disorder."