Antisocial behaviour drops 20 per cent as police hail boxing and twilight football

​ANTISOCIAL behaviour across the East Riding has dropped by 20 per cent in the past year, new figures show.
Officers are getting hundreds of youths off the streets and into activities such as boxing, twilight football and mini-moto sessions to keep them out of trouble.
The move has seen antisocial behaviour complaints reduce from 12,159 to 9,632, according to latest year-on-year figures.
Police are still receiving an average of 26 calls a day, but the number of victims making repeated complaints has halved – a sign officers are tackling core problems in communities.
Chief Superintendent Paul Davison, who is in charge of policing in the East Riding, said: "Antisocial behaviour blights people's lives. It affects them daily.
"We have a dedicated antisocial behaviour desk with someone on there all the time responding to calls.
"We investigate every antisocial behaviour complaint."
Many complaints involve youths involved in nuisance behaviour.
Rather than simply moving them on, the police are looking for solutions.
Mr Davison said: "Traditionally, people have looked at them as a threat because of their behaviour.
"You have to look at it from their perspective as well.
"We are talking and engaging with them to find out what they want."
In Driffield, PCSOs have launched a boxing and fitness club to give young people a healthy interest.
More than 100 youngsters, aged six to 18, have signed up for twice-weekly sessions run by PCSOs and volunteers. PCSO Chris Webster said: "It's to get kids off the street and to give them a purpose.
"The kids come and burn some energy off and it helps us because they are engaging with the police."
The initiative, now in its second year, is in line for a community award at Driffield Town Council's annual meeting on Tuesday.
Driffield town clerk Claire Binnington said: "Antisocial behaviour had become a real issue.
Many of these young people were not being catered for – they are not all engaged by traditional activities like the Scouts. This has made a real difference."
Twilight football sessions are also helping to kick antisocial behaviour into touch.
The sessions have just been secured for another year thanks to �25,000 from East Riding Council.
Antisocial behaviour figures have been reduced by more than 27 per cent on nights when Twilight is running in Goole, Withernsea, Howden, Bridlington, Hornsea, Beverley and South Holderness.
Evening sessions, organised by the police and council, are aimed at 14 to 19-year-olds at times associated with high levels of antisocial behaviour.
Sam Fewster, 13, of Hornsea, is among 400 youths getting stuck into the Twilight Football sessions across the East Riding.
He said: "I've made quite a few friends and it has changed my attitude about the police. You get the chance to get to know them at the football and they seem more approachable."
Michael Squires, schools and young people officer at East Riding Council, said: "The aim of the twilight sessions is to work with young people, developing leadership skills and working on self discipline.
"It also builds positive relationships between local PCSOs to help break down barriers between the police and the young people."

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