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Youth crime has been booted off the park in Barrhead, Neilston and Clarkston thanks to East Renfrewshire Council's mobile football pitch. Incidents dropped by 50 per cent when the pitch was rolled out in Neilston. And in Barrhead where 428 youngsters played football on it over 12-weeks, the highest use of the pitch anywhere so far, incidents dropped by 44 per cent. Clarkston saw an eight per cent drop where the pitch has attracted fewer young people than the other two venues. The pitch is set up on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at venues identified by the police and is staffed by council football development staff, community wardens, community police and fire and rescue staff. Stagecoach also brings along its Wee-G bus mobile youth club bus. Council leader Councillor Jim Fletcher said: "We launched the mobile pitch in August last year and it has proved its worth since then. It gives youngsters something to do and breaks down barriers between young people and police, fire and council staff and has substantially reduced the number of reported incidents and crimes. Now we're looking at extending its use and further cutting youth disorder by keeping kids safe and busy playing football." www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk |
