Met-Track becomes part of London 2012 'Truce' Programme

Met-Track has been recognised by London 2012 for the work it is doing to promote peace and provide a conduit toward conflict resolution through sport.

Met-Track has already been awarded the Inspire Mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire programme, for the work it has been doing to engage young Londoners in athletics and fitness training, delivered by international athletes, with a view to offering alternative pathways toward positive futures.
Met-Track has now also become part of London 2012’s ‘Truce’ programme, which recognises projects that help to promote the Olympic Truce by ‘building a better and more peaceful world through sport and the Olympic ideal.’

The scheme, launched in 2005, has gone from strength to strength engaging with thousands of young people in London, targeting those most likely to benefit, with upwards of 80% not offending or reoffending as a result.


Met-Track’s comprehensive programme of sports coaching, mentoring, and engagement, has won many plaudits, with case studies and testimonies underlining how the project has managed to steer so many young Londoners away from anti-social behavior and crime, making the Capital a safer place in which to live and work in the final run-up to the biggest show on earth in 2012!

Seb Coe, Chair, London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said: “The main principle behind the Olympic Truce today is to help to build a better and more peaceful world through sport and the Olympic ideal. We are delighted that Met-Track is not only helping us to present a safer, more cohesive Capital City to the rest of the world in 2012, but is also using sport to promote peace and address conflict resolution.

Superintendent John Powell, of TPHQ Patrol OCU who is also director of the scheme was delighted with his project’s latest accolade: “The Olympic ideals represent what Met-Track is all about. In targeting young people who might not otherwise think about taking up sport and perhaps who are facing a less than positive future, we are promoting sport, supporting peace, preventing crime, and making London that much safer.

“We are very proud of what we are delivering. Only recently, one of our coaches recognised some pupils from a school where one of our academies is based. It transpired they were en route to confront another east London gang. Not only did he turf them off the bus and send them home, he had them attend his next session, and has since begun to reform attitudes and break down the gang culture.”

Ealing borough have announced support for Met-Track into 2012 and beyond !

Ealing borough have announced support for Met-Track into 2012 and beyond with a cash injection that will see their project reach into 2012 and possibly beyond. It stands as one of the most successful schemes in London, and continues to go from strength to strength.

A steady stream of young people attend the Met-Track sessions at the Perivale track every Thursday between 4.30pm and 6pm, and several have gone on to join the local athletics club.
The borough are holding an Easter awards event where the local Police Borough Commander will attend and present certificates. Parents are also invited and a light buffet will be provided. Statistics representing the past year's work set the borough aside from the majority of their neighbours:

• 81 tee-shirts awarded;
• 55 bronze, 23 silver, and 15 gold medals and certificates presented;
• 39 hoodies given out;
• 9 track passes awarded;
• 11 pairs of spikes given;
• 40 Met-Track rain jackets given out.

The borough sent 22 participants on a recent Star-Track athletics week, and have further diversified with visits from specialists who have completed a comprehensive programme of activities for local young people. A throws event has been organised this Easter with the West London Hammer School, and some Met-Track youngsters are looking to compete in a local open track and field meeting during the holidays. The Metropolitan Police Firearms Unit are sending officers down to speak to the group, and further presentations will be arranged for later in the year.
"Ealing are a shining example of what can be achieved with a little effort and coordination," said Scheme Director, John Powell. "They are delivering a quality product, targeting the right audience, and seeing very few of their number entering the anti-social behaviour radar, let alone offending or reoffending."

Read past news stories on Ealing Borough here.

Hammersmith and Fulham became the 25th London borough to launch Met-Track on 30.31 March 2011

Around 200 local young people enjoyed a feast of sport and barrier breaking activities with police in a showcase event that was the precursor to weekly sessions at the Phoenix School starting on Tuesday 05 April

Some of Britain's finest international athletics coached track and field events, leading street dance instructors took street dance classes, and community scheme coaches from Chelsea Football Club provided football coaching.

Each day kicked off with one of the most impactive talks any of the young people will have received. This was from two serving prisoners, released on licence from Category D HMP Latchmere House, specifically to support Met-Track, as they have before. They gave a very stark reality check on what life is really like behind bars, and described in graphic detail just why young people today would concentrate on their education, and steer well clear of guns and knives.

Activities with a difference followed the lunch break where the young people were treated to experiencing life on the other side of the glass with the Met's elite Territorial Support Group. Officers demonstrated how and why they used a lot of specialist equipment, gave the young people the opportunity to dress up in personal protective gear and even set up relay races whereby the youngsters donned body armour, shields and batons after being told exactly how and why these are deployed in London.

Scheme Director and Met Superintendent John Powell said: "These activities are exceptionally popular but there is a serious message that we convey and it is very clear that young people learned a lot about how we police public order situations and most importantly, why. It also broke down a lot of barriers between them and an organisation that many of them very clearly felt represented a less than approachable image."

The sports sessions were also very popular and won many plaudits from visiting teachers and visitors from the local community.

"It is very clear that we successfully reached much of our target audience", said Scheme Manager Jason Hussain. "We aim for an audience that may not necessarily otherwise had the opportunity or even considered engaging in sport. It was very clear to me that many sets of eyes were opened in Hammersmith and we are really optimistic that this scheme can produce some very positive results in terms of reducing local youth anti-social behaviour."

Scheme Director John Powell added: "huge credit is due to Police Community Support Officer Mel McClure who single handedly organised this event and has been raising funds to support it over a period of 2 years. We were delighted the event was so successful and rewarded all her endeavours.

"We don't have other launches on the horizon at the moment and so will be looking to consolidate the scheme on the boroughs currently running it. However, our priority now has to be to raise significant funding to sustain the scheme in the long term. To date, all our applications to the Lottery, the Mayor's Fund, Comic Relief and other sources have all been rejected and if that trend continues through 2011, we may find ourselves having to reconsider our potential to contribute towards the Olympic Legacy."