A new boxing project has been set up in Stoke-on-Trent to steer some of the city’s most prolific offenders away from a life of crime.
Stoke-on-Trent’s Integrated Offender Management (IOM) unit has received £4,000 to fund weekly sessions for its users.
The IOM Unit is a multi-agency partnership where Police, Probation, healthcare workers and other agencies work together to reduce offending.
PCC Matthew Ellis is ensuring that 100 per cent of funding received by Staffordshire Police from proceeds of crime seizures is going back to local communities.
The Proceeds of Crime Fund (formerly known as the Local Policing fund) is supporting projects in conjunction with local policing teams and local authorities. It is made up of assets and money seized by police from criminals in Staffordshire under the Proceeds of Crime Act – Staffordshire Police continues to robustly strip criminals of their assets.
Mr Ellis said: “For the first time, 100 per cent of funding that comes back to Staffordshire Police from proceeds of crime seizures is going directly to local communities. Projects like benefit both the service user and the community in a really positive way.
“By engaging these people through sport, we can intervene to help break the cycle of reoffending. This is not only better for the individuals involved but also the best way of reducing crime and making a positive impact on communities in the long-term.”
A probation officer and two IOM police officers are always present at the sessions based at Impact Gym in Fenton.
The project, dubbed ‘Fight for Change Stoke’ will run sessions twice a week with former professional boxer Scott Lawton employed to coach.
Rachael Smith, Probation Officer for Staffordshire & West Midlands Probation Trust and
Northern IOM said: “We are very pleased to have been awarded funding from the Police and Crime Commissioner.
“The project’s uptake has been good with people attending sessions consistently. For some of the participants, this is the first time they have adopted a fitness regime outside of a custodial setting.
“Ultimately our goal is for the people we work with to lead better lives, not just for their benefit but for the sake of their families and the wider community. We strongly believe that this project will enhance our capacity to deal with substance misuse and related offending.”
John Owen, Manager of IOM, said: “This model has been extremely successful elsewhere in introducing offenders back into the Community. They have a focus away from crime and drugs, which ultimately means a reduction in victims of crime.
“Whilst at the project, specially trained staff work with the individuals to address any needs that they have, whether this be drugs, drink, housing or anything else that detracts from them leading a crime free life in the Community.”
Service user Mark Green, aged 38, said: “Boxing helps me to get rid of my frustration instead of turning to crime or drugs. I still get the same sort of buzz out of it, but this is better for me.
“It is a great resource to have on top of the support from IOM. I just wish it had been around years ago.”
Bids for funding from the PCC’s Proceeds of Crime Fund had to demonstrate a clear connection with reducing crime and fit into one of the Commissioner’s four priority areas: intervening early, putting victims first, preventing offender and re-offending, and improving public confidence.
For more details on the Fight for Change Stoke contact PC Steven Wilson on 01785 233 241 or 07891 940220.
