This Spring Huntingdonshire District Council has come up with a novel way of keeping the streets safer by dealing with concerns about young people playing football and ball games and encouraging communities to come together harmoniously.

The Community Safety Team will be going out onto the streets of Huntingdonshire to hand out referee style red and yellow cards to players and residents. One side of the card contains information for residents on how to deal with football nuisance and the other asks the young players to be considerate

The issue of young people causing a disturbance by playing football and ball games is one that arises frequently across the district, especially in locations where there are green areas close to housing. The aim of the scheme is to encourage residents and young people to be more considerate of each other. If the whole community works together, everyone can enjoy the benefits of their local green spaces.

More serious action can be taken if people are found to be committing a deliberate antisocial behaviour offence such as verbal abuse or causing damage.

Claudia Water Community Safety Team Leader said, “Very few children and young people playing football or other ball games are being anti-social or causing trouble.  Most are simply burning off energy and socialising. These cards ask both residents and players to be more considerate of each other and develop good community relations so everyone can live happily together.”

For more information and advice on managing the issues caused by football and other ball games please visit the link on the right hand side of the page.