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Police in Aston and Witton are partnering up with former boxer and Super-Middleweight World Champion Richie Woodhall to tackle anti-social behaviour with a difference.

Fourteen young men from the Perry Barr, Aston and Witton areas have been selected to take part in a 10-week project working with Richie and his team.  During the 10 weeks the boys will attend Richie's gym, which is based in Witton, two evenings a week where they will be put through an intensive training routine. 

Richie Woodhall

Self-discipline

The boys selected have been chosen via recommendations from local schools and the community.  Some of the youths have previously come to the notice of the police and are keen to turn their lives around.  The project aims to encourage the youths to want to achieve something with their lives and teach them self-discipline.

Len Woodhall, trainer and father of the ex-WBC champion, worked with prisoners for years, training and rehabilitating them back into society and is keen to work alongside these youths.

Challenge

Richie Woodhall is looking forward to the challenge and said: "This is a great opportunity for youngsters from the Aston and Witton areas to be part of a sporting project that provides mentoring and focus, while carrying out an enjoyable activity."

Sergeant Akeel Najib, who leads the Witton neighbourhood team and is the lead for the initiative, said: "This project has been set up based on feedback and concerns from the local community regarding youths acting in an anti-social manner.

"The project is a perfect example of partnership working as a number of partner agencies have all come together to tackle local issues in a positive and meaningful manner."

Tackling gang culture

The project, called 'Inner City Boxing', is being sponsored by Aston Pride and Birmingham Foundation, who are also keen to tackle the problems of anti-social behaviour and gang culture in the area.

PC Sarah Baggott, who has been working hard to get the project off the ground, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity for these lads to learn a new sport while at the same time being part of a local initiative set up by local groups and will no doubt have a positive outcome for everyone involved."