Responding to a consultation on the future of angling, the agency believes the sport can be used to net thousands of disadvantaged young people. The agency claims that fishing "can demonstrably reduce truancy, antisocial behaviour and offending, and increase self-esteem among young people".
Get Hooked On Fishing, a project run by Durham police constable Mick Watson, targets socially excluded young people, 75 per cent of which have been referred by crime-prevention agencies. Of the 660 young people that have been through the programme since 2000, 98 per cent are still fishing and not one has offended.
"Catching that first fish is a turning point," says PC Watson. "It can be life-changing."
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