Two hundred children will have taken part in the new Project Rugby scheme in Southwark by the end of May, as the anti-knife crime initiative continues to go from strength to strength.
The scheme, which has seen the Met join forced with Old Alleynians Rugby Club and Southwark Lancers RFC, gives kids from across Southwark and Lambeth the opportunity to meet officers and learn more about police work and learn non-contact Rugby skills, with the aim of encouraging them to take up the sport.
By the end of next month, 200 children will have taken part, with around 2,000 hearing from the organisers at their school assemblies.
Sergeant Chris Bright said: “We are steadily encouraging more and more children to come and take part in ‘Project Rugby’, get fit and active and also engage with police officers – our latest session saw nearly 40 children join us.
“There is a tremendous amount of talent out there.
“Rugby isn’t just about the game, it’s about people and being part of a community.
“Better people in the right environment make better players.
“We hope that more and more children will hear about the opportunities that Project Rugby has to offer and will come and join us in the next round of training sessions.
“It is important that as well as children taking up the game, our key messages about interaction with the police and reducing knife crime are getting across.
“Our stance on knife crime is really quite simple – knives change lives.
“It’s your life; make the right choice.”