Barbecue scheme to 'break down barriers'

Police are spending almost £900 on a barbecue in a Sandwell park to "break down barriers" with nuisance teenagers.

The scheme is being funded by central government as part of 18 projects involving 50 police community support officers. It will see a barbecue held in Victoria Park in Smethwick at a cost of £896.

Other schemes will see £500 for a Fairtrade day at Bantock Primary School in Wolverhampton, £700 spent for gates to be installed in a problem-plagued alley in Wolverhampton and £1,000 for cricket coaching sessions for Birmingham youngsters.

PCSOs have been asked to apply for the cash, called the Neighbourhood Contingency Fund, to improve the areas they patrol.

Ward councillor Darren Cooper today said he would ask serious questions about the project.

He said: "This is part of a wider project to engage with young people and has involved a number of agencies including Sandwell Homes and the council's youth service.

"If 300 young people turn up to this and talk with the different agencies it will be value for money but if it turns out to be just 20 teenagers eating burgers then there are serious questions to ask about the cost."

It comes a month after police in Dudley revealed they would be taking cups of coffee to gangs hanging around in parks at night.

The scheme was billed as a way of offering crime prevention advice and making sure youngsters were not getting drunk.

As part of the latest round of funding a group of 50 PCSOs were sent on a five day training course at the University of the First Age (UFA) in Hockley before being given the chance to bid for £500 each.

Sergeant Wendy Brookes, who helped organise the scheme, said: "We decided to hold a series of workshops at the university to give the PCSOs an opportunity to develop their abilities.

"As part of the training they were taught how to apply for cash for community projects and at the end of the scheme were asked to submit a bid that would improve their neighbourhood."