Police commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe presented Newham All Star Sport Academy with a Metropolitan Police award during a visit to one of the group’s training sessions.
He spent two hours speaking to coaches, parents and players and attending a knife crime workshop at Rokeby School in Canning Town, as well as learning about NASSA’s Carry A Basketball Not A Blade initiative from project creator Anthony Okereafor.
Sir Bernard said: “I’m really impressed by the project. Clearly the young people are enjoying it, keeping themselves fit and getting the sport that they can take part in.
“They are getting some positive messages about not getting involved in knife crime and not getting involved in the gangs, which is good.”
He was presented with a Carry A Basketball Not A Blade t-shirt as a thank you for his time.
NASSA founder Natasha Hart said: “It’s amazing to receive such an prestigious award and it was such an honour to have the Metropolitan Police Commissioner come down to Newham to see what we do here. He took the time to speak to a lot of people and asked a lot of questions about our work.”
Read more:
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here