Beach Rugby Is Successfully Tackling Antisocial Behaviour In Rhyl

After a successful coaching project over the summer with Rhyl Rugby Club and the WRU, the Safer Neighbourhood Team were keen to continue their partnership work to get more children into rugby and away from crime. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As a result PCSO Ryan Hill, PCSO Carly Bennion and PC Darren Ankers together with Rhyl Rugby Club, Rhyl Lifeboat and the Welsh Rugby Union recently organised further free coaching sessions, where children aged 6 and over were taught by qualified coaches in an inflatable cage on the beach. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The officers also put on activities for the children to get involved in, and a tour of the lifeboat station was conducted by the Rhyl Lifeboat crew. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

PCSO Ryan Hill said: “After seeing a dramatic fall in antisocial behaviour in East Rhyl, we saw a further opportunity to work with Rhyl RNLI on the beach rugby project. It was very worthwhile and I’d like to thank everyone for their efforts and hard work in making it the success it was.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This will hopefully keep those children active and focused rather than being pressured into committing crime and antisocial behaviour in their community.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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“It also meant that Rhyl Rugby Club were able to generate interest in their club and get children signed up. Those who attended got a taste of what it was like to work on the Lifeboat which again generated interest in joining the crew when they are old enough. They also got to interact with their local policing team and see a fun side to the police.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Future projects are now being planned with the rugby club, WRU and Rhyl RNLI. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​