Anti Social Behaviour and Fishing

[Aled]

Fishing tackles anti-social crime

Up to 4m people in Wales and England fish
Some young people are not known for sitting still but the Environmental Agency is hoping to persuade them to enjoy messing about by the river.
It is aiming to get more children and teenagers hooked on fishing and join the 4m anglers in Wales and England.

Some schemes are using the sport to prevent and tackle anti-social behaviour among certain groups.

The agency in Wales said more than 3,000 people, mainly youngsters, had discovered fishing at events last year.

Andy Schofield from Environment Agency Wales said all sorts of youth organisations could be potential targets for fishing schemes.

"We recently held an all-Wales Cubs fun day. We try and tempt the youngsters [to take up fishing] - they're going to be the future of the sport," he said.

"We have worked in several primary schools, we work with youth groups including housing associations.

"We also work with the Federation of Welsh Anglers to make sure there are enough coaches out there."

'Sit and fish all day'

One example of using fishing to prevent anti-social behaviour is a scheme in Denbighshire, called Get Hooked on Fishing, part of a nationwide government-backed charity programme.

"They were trying to identify youths at risk of getting drawn into offending, to divert them away from that sort of life," Mr Schofield explained.

Another project took children fishing in Porthcawl, south Wales.

He said: "Kids with ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - are able to sit and fish all day without taking any medication. Teachers have been gobsmacked that they can do that."

The agency hopes to attract 200,000 extra people to the sport by 2015 in Wales and England.

Head of fisheries, Dafydd Evans, said: "We aim to help more people from more backgrounds enjoy the simple pleasures of going fishing, and at the same time help them appreciate and protect their environment."

Research by the agency found one in five young people aged 12 to 16 had fished during the past two years and as many again would like to try the sport.

It has set out its 10-year strategy - Angling in 2015 - to encourage people from wider backgrounds to take up fishing.



Personally i've been saying this since the teachers strike of 1986!
cheers
Aled

[dimebagfromhell]

well all i can say is, i live in northern ireland, and fishing has kept me out of alot of trouble during the years. there aint much to do around here, so i wouldn't like to think what id be doing al the time if i didnt have somewhere to fish anti-social behaviour is very bad where i live, you look sideways at someone and you can easily get a fistful of rings in your face.

i think this is a great idea! ;D

[bobronte]

Hi Aled & Dimebag

I also think this is often overlooked by non-fishers...your right DB about the NI thing ...fishing as far as I could see was the only sport not tainted (God Bless) with Secterianism:- it brought communities & different religions together in clubs etc. and does elsewhere throughout the world.
Elsewhere it also brought different classes (I know this is a hot potato to some but..) beside each other on the riverbank etc. on Association water the upper class(?) & the working class person were sharing pastimes, trying to catch fish & enjoy a day out - its as basic as that

I know the National Angling Guides Association in Northern Ireland have been envolved with Probation board in the Northwest. I think its in the 'Irish Angler' this month, getting young people to get involved with river cleaning & be shown an ethusaism for fishing instead of the usual sysytem of centres or community service which doesn't catch their imaginations etc. and prevent them re-offending.

If you motivate or interest someone early you probably have changed a route that would lead to trouble, anti-social activity, community splits and generally more heartache for many families & communities ....Politicans & councils should take note!!

I thought I'd reply to a good constructive thread.
fsihing is worldwide :- no religion, no class, no ethnic division, no sexism, just, inclusive, constructive, environmently enhancing sport & pastime for everybody to socialise, be active and motivate people especially those whose future can be changed for the better.

In the current local elections maybe this ought to be brought up to why other sports etc get more funding but are less inclusive & better for all communties & the country as a whole???

Regards BB

sorry for my spelling!