NEWPORT BOXING CLUB AND AMIR KHAN HELP NETWORK RAIL CELEBRATE BIG HIT TO RAILWAY CRIME

Tuesday 11 Jan 2011

NEWPORT BOXING CLUB AND AMIR KHAN HELP NETWORK RAIL CELEBRATE BIG HIT TO RAILWAY CRIME

Region & Route:: | Wales & Western: Wales & Borders; | Wales & Western

Young boxers from St. Joseph boxing club, Newport punched their way to success this weekend at the inaugural No Messin’ Tri-nation boxing competition, organised by Network Rail and supported by the world’s light welter weight champion Amir Khan.

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More than 500 people from the rail industry, sporting world and youth community sector gathered at the De Vere Hotel at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton on Saturday evening to celebrate knocking down railway crime and providing positive activities for young people. Boxers from the five clubs across Britain which Network Rail supports competed in 12 bouts of three 90- second rounds.

St Joseph’s Boxing Club – Newport, Wales
Moston and Collyhurst Boxing Club – Moston, Manchester
Gloves Community Centre – Bolton
Heart of Portsmouth Boxing Academy – Portsmouth
Lochaber Phoenix Boxing Club – Fort William, Scotland

The club’s Jerry Connors, managed to punch home a defeat against Lewis Gorman from Everton, both aged 11, to bring victory to Newport. Unfortunately a clear sweep across the score board wasn’t on the menu for St.Joseph’s, 15 year old John James sadly lost out to Morgan Jackson from Gloves Community Gym, Bolton, home to world boxing champion, Amir Khan. All of the boxers were rewarded with trophies for their efforts.

Network Rail teamed up with St. Joseph boxing club towards the end of 2009 to help combat railway crime in Newport, a top hotspot in south Wales. The club received a £10k funding boost from Network Rail to get more young people to take up new sporting skills and away from the temptation of misbehaving on the railway. The initiative came off the back of Network Rail’s successful No Messin’ campaign, which aims to drive down the number of rail crimes committed by young people.

Amongst the guests were ex-champion boxer Michael Gomez, Welshman Sean McGoldrick, silver medallist at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and ex-professional footballer (Bolton Wanderers, Southampton and Wigan Athletic) David Lee.

Commenting on the event, Amir Khan said: “It’s great to see so many kids putting their energies into something positive and coming together to compete in this fantastic new competition. Instead of hanging around the streets or mucking about on the railway, they learn a fun, disciplined sport which keeps them fit and out of trouble.

"Well done to all the lads who fought and I hope this event has helped remind them that this is where they want to be, not getting into trouble, or worse, getting hurt or even killed by messing around on the tracks.”

Martin Gallagher, head of community safety at Network Rail said: “Our partnerships with St. Joseph’s and the other clubs has helped us to raise awareness and spread really important safety messages to young people about the dangers of messing about on the railway, and we’ve seen a significant reduction in railway crime.

“This competition is a celebration of how working in partnership with community groups can deliver real benefits for everyone – most of all the young people who are enjoying the sport and learning a great skill in a safe environment.”

He added: “Railway crime is incredibly dangerous but can also cause massive disruption and cost to the industry. By reducing crime, we can focus investment in improving passenger services and a better railway on which Britain relies.”

Notes to editors

St Josephs Boxing Club is based on George Street of the Pill area of Newport and its gym is open to everybody and of all ages. The gym is open everyday with regular evening classes for young people to take up a new sport like kickboxing.

The club has trained a number of Welsh, British and even a European Gold medallist and the majority of this crop of champions are cadets or youth boxers. Some of whom have joined the Great Britain headquarters in Sheffield in preparation for the London 2012 Games. They also regularly attend Welsh development sessions in Cardiff hosted by Welsh National Coach Tony Williams.

National railway crime figures:

There are around 3,400 recorded incidents of railway crime across Britain each year involving young people taking short cuts, spraying graffiti, playing chicken with trains or placing objects on the tracks. All put their lives – and in some cases the lives of others – at risk. The true figure is expected to be much higher with many incidents going unreported.

Whilst these figures are alarming, the No Messin’ campaign, now in it’s fifth year, is seeing some success with a 32% reduction in reported crimes by young people.*

**All data supplied by Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and are from 01 April 2009 to 31 March 2010. This is the first time Network Rail has published trespass and vandalism figures in its financial year.

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