05/03/2009

Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champ Supports Met's Boxing Initiative

A group of school students will be looking to gain top tips from veteran World champion boxer Tim Witherspoon during a visit at the Met Police's Boxing Centre in Peel Centre at Hendon this week.

The Met Police has teamed up with Capital City Academy in Brent to plan the surprise visit by the former heavyweight world champion during what the students believe to be a standard coaching and skills workshop.

Witherspoon, who at the height of his career defeated Frank Bruno in front of 60,000 fans at Wembley, will be discussing his career and the benefits to be gained from the sport.

The class is part of the Police Community Clubs of Great Britain's Contender Am-box programme, a non-contact boxing initiative run in partnership with schools and boxing clubs nationwide. This ABAE 'Accredited' programme involves trained officers from the Met's Territorial Support Group (TSG) and Safer Neighbourhoods teams, who all possess an Amateur Boxing Association Level 1 coaching certificate, delivering the innovative programme.

The 'Contender' package includes nutrition, citizenship and modules on local policing issues including gun, knife and gang crime. Other subjects cover bullying, truancy, drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

The Contender Am-box programme is a recognised tactic for diverting children and young people away from crime while learning the advantages of sport, discipline and team working.

Since the successful pilot in London last summer, the programme is now being rolled out in schools, clubs and other groups across the UK, with recognition from the Amateur Boxing Association of England (ABAE) and accreditation by the Award Scheme Development and Accreditation Network (ASDAN).

(JM/BMcC)

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