Tag rugby to try to tackle yob behaviour

Innovative tag rugby sessions will help kick anti-social behaviour into touch in the Kidderminster area and have already proved so successful that similar projects could be introduced in South Africa.

A move to crack down on youth crime prompted West Mercia Police to set up the tag rugby sessions in north Worcestershire. More than 50 schools across the force area have taken part in the scheme so far. Now they are to be rolled out to other areas including the Wyre Forest district.

The out-of school hours sessions were set up with the backing of the Rugby Football Union and the charity Child Victims of Crime to help provide young people with something to do during the evenings and weekends.

So far 28 police officers and Community Support Officers, from local policing teams, have been trained by the Union as tag rugby coaches.

The project has enabled police officers to build up good relations with youngsters taking part in coaching sessions and provided them with an opportunity to put across child safety messages.

Now members of the South African Rugby Union and TAG South Africa interested in introducing similar schemes and have visited north Worcestershire to see the project in action.

Rob Macdonald and Stuart McConnell, from TAG SA and SARU, are keen to replicate the initiative in Cape Town.

They have met West Mercia Assistant Chief Constable Simon Edens to discuss how the projects are set up and supervised.

Mr Edens said: "This project is about police accessibility, visibility and familiarity, getting officers into schools and encouraging young people to engage positively with the force.

"Tag rugby builds bridges between young people and the police in an informal but constructive setting, as well as giving them an opportunity to take exercise and hopefully generating a life-long love of sport.

"I am delighted we have been able to welcome international guests to the force and showcase this excellent work which has been extremely well received by schools in north Worcestershire.

"There are already plans for an inter-school competition and to extend this project into other parts of the force area."