Basketball battle between NT police and kids during National Youth Week

THE BATTLE of authority versus youth was taken to the courts for a friendly game of basketball as part of National Youth Week.

Cops vs Kids

THE battle of authority versus youth was taken to the courts for a friendly game of basketball for National Youth Week.

The second Kids Vs Cops event at the Palmerston YMCA Drop-in Centre had members of the NT Police Force take on children between 10 and 20 years of age.

The centre’s sports and recreation co-ordinator Judy Brown said the game put the relationship between kids and officers on an even level.

“Kids can see police as fun people, while adults can see that these are really good kids, even if some have run into the law before,” she said.

“YMCA promotes a healthy lifestyle, so this event, which is free for the kids, is keeping them active.”

Joezay Talbot, 14, said he was not a basketballer but wanted to take on the police.

“I want to have fun and beat the cops,” he said.

Constable First Class Tanith Blair said the game was part of youth engagement.

“We can interact with kids on a different level as we fight youth crime,” she said.

“Though they’ve got the advantage today, the kids have been training and we haven’t.”

Police were the ones to get on the board early but both teams showed good spirit with plenty of banter.

Palmerston YMCA is planning a Kids Vs Cops rematch for Youth Week next year.