Community Safety Partnership
Diversionary Football
Partnership
Strathclyde Police, Community Support Officers, ASB Team, Community Education, Caledonia FC, Dundonald Youth Workers, Dundonald Neighbourhood Watch
Group Targeted
Youths aged 14+ from areas highlighted by community police as being hotspot areas for vandalism and other antisocial behaviour.
Community Safety Partnership Priority
To engage with youths in a diversionary manner in order to reduce complaints of antisocial behaviour.
Aims
To reduce complaints of antisocial behaviour, particularly in Dundonald as problem had been highlighted during early part of week through problem solving process.
Approach
To engage with groups identified through problem solving process in Dundonald, and community police in other areas, in order to divert away from antisocial behaviour.
Methodology
A football league was set up with 2 teams from Dundonald and 1 team each from Prestwick, Tarbolton, Dalmilling and Wallacetoun. A total of 60+ youths participated each Wednesday for 6 weeks, with medals given to all participants and a trophy to the winners
Agencies Involved
Strathclyde Police, Community Support Officers, ASB Team, Community Education, Caledonia FC, Dundonald Youth Workers, Dundonald Neighbourhood Watch
Evaluation
Process
Number of youths attending, volume of complaints to police and ASB team during times when diversion in place.
Evaluation
Impact
60+ youths were in attendance each week activity was in place.
The ASB team received no complaints on evenings activity was taking place.
Complaints to police reduced significantly regarding youth disorder in target areas on evenings activities took place.
Criticism
More qualified coaches could have been used to take sessions, as sessions relied on people from police and ASB team volunteering time.
Transport arrangements could be bettered.
Potential
A new similar initiative is planned to run longer early in 2008.
Contact Details
David Porte,
Community Safety Officer (Problem Solving)
Email: David.Porte@south-ayrshire.gov.uk
