Birkenhead boys ride out with police officers

Jan 12 2011 by Claire Graham, Birkenhead News

A NEW scheme has been launched to tackle anti-social behaviour among young people from the Crossways estate in Birkenhead.

Young people have been given the opportunity to “ride out” with officers in Delamere Forest on mountain bikes as part of an initiative to build relations with the police.

In recent months, the Crossways area has proved a problem for police. They have been tackling the issue by carrying out enforcement and executing intelligence-led warrants under the Misuse of Drugs Act and Theft Act.

However, the Laird Street Police team have also been working closely with Wirral Partnership Homes to provide activities for young people in the area, as a preventative measure for these problems.

Sergeant Sam Parker, whose family grew up in the Laird Street area said: “I feel very strongly about our communities and believe this kind of engagement with young people is a very important side of neighbourhood policing as it shows them that the police have two sides to show."

The first session took place on December 20 when a group of teenagers aged between 14 and 19 went mountain biking in Delamere forest with police officers and a dedicated guide.

Sergeant Parker said: “They all said how much they enjoyed it and were looking forward to the next time."

A further three mountaing biking trips are being arranged, and activities are being discussed with girls in the community to find out what they might like to do.

The project has been part funded by Merseyside Police, and part funded by Wirral Partnership Homes.