Football pitched against anti-social behaviour

Date published: 23 July 2010

Young people living in Hyde Godley can attend a new football training session beginning on Friday 6 August 2010 at Hyde Leisure Centre on Walker Lane in Godley.

The free session for 10 to 18 year-olds runs from 6.30pm to 8pm on the sports centre training pitches.

The session has been organised by Youth Services working with PCSOs Obinna Nkeodi and David Hulme to address anti-social and nuisance behaviour in the Godley area.

It is hoped that by providing the football session on a Friday evening young people will become involved in more constructive activities.

The start of the football session coincides with the launch of the Safe4Summer initiative promoting activities for young people across Tameside and Greater Manchester.

During the summer holidays parents and children can find out what is going on in their area by logging on to the Safe4Summer.com website or calling Tameside Youth Services on 0161 342 2612.

The scheme provides young people with a wide range of things to do to ward off boredom and the anti-social behaviour that can often follow.

As well as supporting many of the events and activities being held during the summer holidays officers will be continuing with their ongoing enforcement activities including high visibility patrols in hot spot areas for anti-social behaviour.

PCSO Nkeodi said: “Friday evenings are often a peak time for reports of anti-social behaviour to the police and by providing an evening activity we hope to encourage young people to become involved and get off the streets.

“Friends hanging around on pavement corners may not mean to cause any harm, but groups of young people can appear intimidating to vulnerable and older people, especially if they are stood outside their home. They may not be intentionally causing distress, but groups talking loudly can disturb residents and families with young children, especially during the evening when they are trying to get them to sleep.

“It is only a small minority of people who deliberately act in an anti-social manner, but the police take reports of this sort of behaviour seriously and will act robustly if necessary.”