A Jamaican style of cricket is coming to the Brixton Community Centre of Excellence on Saturday February 28 to ease tensions between the Lambeth Police and the community.
The Lambeth Cricket Association have teamed up with the Metropolitan Black Police Association (MBPA) to strengthen community relations and play in the ‘Catchy Shubby Cricket Match’.
The event will take place from 5-9pm and is aimed at promoting cricket to encourage community cohesion and participation in one of the least peaceful places in the UK according to 2014 Metropolitan Police crime figures.
“Events like this could help the community for generations to come,” said Yvonne Lynch a MBPA Executive.
“We will try to improve relations as people can come together in the name of sport and reduce tensions between both sides.
“Sport can bring people together, build confidence and unite people.
“Playing alongside the police can build trust, respect and appreciation for them as well as share visions and goals and potentially reduce crime by strengthening relations.”
The Jamaican game ‘Catchy Shubby Cricket’ is a shorter and faster moving version of cricket where roles change rapidly, it is more inclusive, informal and more exciting for younger players.
The rules are in the process of gaining support from the English cricket establishment, most notably Surrey County Cricket Club.
Ms Lynch, also the head of the MBPA social committee, said she hopes to have more than 100 people, including club members and the Lambeth residents, to the all inclusive match.
“I am looking forward to the event and hopefully it will broaden horizons and end or lesson prejudices,” she said.
This may be a difficult task as according to the UK Peace Index Lambeth’s crime rate is over three times the national average and has been described as the ‘drugs capital of London’.
In the UK Lambeth scores in the bottom 10% in terms of burglary, robbery, vehicle crime and violence and sexual offences as well as almost 30% of all households earning earn below 60% of the median income.
Picture courtesy of Neil Tilbrook, with thanks
