Surrey Police and E Sports - Engage with Gaming

Surrey Police have spent the October Half Term working with the British Esports Association in a new engagement initiative for young people in Surrey called Engage with Gaming.  

This project was aimed at engaging with young people in Surrey, and used the popular online game, Rocket League. The event took place at two leisure centres, Woking Sports Box and Places Leisure Camberley across October half-term.    

 

Engage with Gaming enabled the police to reach with and interact with vulnerable young people in Surrey and build positive relationships, whilst also educating them about various crime types and issues within the county.

 

Other partner organisations such as Fearless were also in attendance, with the common goal of building upon existing relationships with children and young people within Surrey through the medium of esports and gaming.

 

Members of staff from the British Esports Association were also on hand to provide advice about the esports and gaming industry, whilst also sign posting to potential careers within the industry.

 

In Surrey Heath, Mayor Sarah Jane Croke attended the session on Friday 28 October and also spent time engaging with budding gamers.

 

Alick James, Borough Commander for Surrey Heath, said: “Engage with Gaming was a fantastic event held over October half term in the British Esports Association.  

 

"Surrey Police were able to break down barriers with young people, and, those in harder to reach communities.

 

In partnership with the British Esports Association and partner organisations such as Fearless, Surrey Police were able to both engage with young people and educate them around online safety, crime and anti-social behaviour.”

 

Elliot Bond, Head of Broadcast & Events for British Esports Association also commented:

“It’s been a pleasure to be involved with the Surrey Police esports pilot. It’s fantastic to have proven that once again esports is an incredible tool to engage with young people.

Through the successes found in breaking down barriers with both the Surrey Police and the North Yorkshire Police, we’re hoping to now look at ways to expand this initiative into new areas and regional police forces”.