Sir Menzies Campbell visits Bristol

5.03.48pm GMT Fri 23rd Feb 2007

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell braved rainy weather to visit Riverside sports centre in Bristol this week. The centre works closely with the Bristol Family Support Project (BFSP), and seeks to use sport to divert young people away from the temptations of gangs and crime.

Stephen Williams MP (Bristol West) accompanied Sir Menzies on his visit, and stressed the importance of schemes such as the Bristol Family Support Project as a means of keeping young people free from crime.

"Community based projects such as this have an immediate positive effect on young lives".

"Rather than threatening youngsters with punishments and deterrents, the BFSP gives them a real alternative by granting them excellent facilities to use during their free time".

"The lack of recreational activities available to children is a chief cause of anti-social behaviour, and sport is an excellent means of overcoming this problem"

"We now need the adequate support to kick-start similar projects elsewhere".

Ming, as a former Olympic athlete, is mad keen on sport so showed great enthusiasm for the project, and believed that it marks a step up from the government's approach to crime prevention. He said "Problems of gang crime cannot be solved by politician led summits, more laws and longer sentences. As this youth club demonstrates, by getting involved in sport young people gain confidence, respect and self-discipline. All of these qualities can help to stop the downward spiral towards a life of crime".

"This government's approach has focused on chasing headlines rather than giving communities the means to tackle the causes of crime".