A CRIMEFIGHTING soccer school will be launched in St Andrew’s Park next week.

Children from the First Tower area will be coached, free, by community development officer David Kennedy.

Youngsters who do not play in sports teams are being specifically targeted in a bid to keep them off the street and out of trouble.

But all children aged between 11 and 16 are welcome.

And adults are being offered the chance to gain coaching qualifications by helping to run the scheme.

Mr Kennedy said: ‘About 20 per cent of criminal offenders last year were aged between 14 and 17.

One in six calls made to the police was about anti-social behaviour.

Most anti-social behaviour is caused by bored teenagers.

They are bored for a number of reasons.

It may be a lack of money or parental support; it may be that they have low self-esteem.

‘These children are at a high risk of offending.

But I want the future Island coaches to come from them.’