CRIME fighters are fishing in troubled waters, hoping to get youngsters hooked on the sport - rather than crime.
Cleveland Fire Brigade has joined forces with two charities to set up angling schools to teach youngsters the rudiments of fishing.
Neil Heath, Cleveland Fire Brigade's Community Liaison Officer for Redcar, said: "The brigade has created this partnership to help in the fight against arson which accounts for 90 per cent of our fires throughout Middlesbrough, Redcar, Stockton and Hartlepool.
"The aim of the sessions, which are taught in modules, is to deliver fun and interactive training in the sport of angling whilst increasing young persons' awareness of the environment and how to look after it, enhancing skills and team building and demonstrating there are viable alternatives to crime and anti-social behaviour.'' Six youngsters aged 10 to 17, had their first taster session at the River Tees Water Sports Centre, Stockton, on Friday, where they were introduced to the sport.
Cleveland Fire Brigade is working with national charity, Get Hooked on Fishing (GHOF) and Safe in Tees Valley's Redcar and Cleveland Youth Inclusion Programme (YIP) on the new intervention programme.
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