Teesside boxing coaches joining calls to try and tackle knife crime
They attended a community meeting in Stockton yesterday
Boxing coaches are joining calls to tackle knife crime in Teesside by taking in children and young people so they don't end up going down a route of crime.
A meeting took place yesterday in Stockton for the community to put together some ideas on how to end serious violence.
Glenn Bartlett, owner of CPS Amateur Boxing Club in Middlesbrough, said: "I just think you're a coward really if you stab people. You ruin so many lives as well as your own because you've got to sit in jail for the rest of your life.
"It's massively important to tackle knife crime. I think if you've got youth clubs or you've got boxing clubs or you've got things that children can do these days, I think it'll be massive to prevent this from happening really.
"I haven't always been good in my life but I've changed myself for the better so you're a product of your own environment. Look around at the people you're with and if they're bad people then you're tied to that and that's going to be you. It reflects you. So I'd say be a good person, make the right choices in life, and just make your family proud really."
Adrian Worth is from Billingham Boxing Academy and he said: "What I can see with a lot of young people who are victims of knife crime or are using knives, it's not like they've woken up one morning and decided 'oh, I'm gunna sell drugs. I'm gunna use a knife.' They're a product of their environment and they're victim of their circumstances.
"There isn't enough support within the community to help and make these right decisions. Organisations like ours and good people will. I know a lot of the times schools are under pressure because they've got GCSEs and targets to meet, so they're not able to engage with these young people in the correct way.
"Try and find yourself a good sports club, try and find yourself good role models in the community and listen to the advice of elders."