As the summer holidays start, five teams of play workers are hitting the streets of Leeds. "The areas chosen have high pressure points, high population density and lots of kids hanging around with nothing to do," explains Frank O'Malley, business co-ordinator for Leeds Play Network.
Previous experience shows the work "lowers the temperature" on estates.
"During the time we're there, the police receive fewer youth nuisance calls and there are fewer incidents of young people being moved on by adults," he adds. "In fact, last year so many community groups, including an over-80s club, bought presents for the play workers that I began to question why we were paying them."
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