Marines launch Manchester gym scheme to prevent crime

About 30 children have been training in combat sports at a Wythenshawe gym

The Royal Marines has launched a scheme at a Manchester gym to cut crime in deprived areas.

About 30 children took part in the combat sports workshop at Wythenshawe Black Belt Academy.

Warrant Officer Dennis Harrison described it as "an alternative to crime" and said they were building on previous work by the venue.

Academy instructor Edward Bates added that youngsters could also work for the armed forces in the future.

"The Royal Navy wants to really improve their recruitment numbers from areas like Wythenshawe," he said.

"They've reached out to community projects like us because they know that the young people we have here - and some of the attributes we try to instil through our martial arts school - are the sort of young people that they want in the Navy."

Warrant Officer Harrison said they found "combat sports gyms help to break down the barriers", adding that the venues were "far better than when we go to a school where [youngsters] are under peer pressure not to get engaged".

Warrant Officer Harrison says he hopes the scheme is not a "one-off"

The Royal Navy and elite fighters Royal Marines have been working with local authorities nationwide in schemes to cut knife crime.

The projects aim to boost discipline through martial arts and combat sports like Muay Thai, also known as Thai boxing.

Warrant Officer Harrison said: "There is a self-defence element to it but it's more of a pathway to channel that aggression.

"If they can come to gyms like this and others across Manchester and they can get that aggression out in the gym, that is far better."

In Greater Manchester, police recorded 3,732 knife crimes in the 12 months to August 2023 - a reduction of 15.2% from the previous year.

Warrant Officer Harrison added they wanted to promote "an alternative to gun crime, violent crime, drugs and gang culture".

"We'd like to build on the work done by these gyms and keep an ongoing relationship with the authorities rather than this being a one-off event."

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