OFFICERS have taken steps to kick racism out of the classroom and from the football field.

Dedicated football officer PC Rickie Wallbank has been working closely with Barrow AFC and the charity Anti-Racist Cumbria to set up workshops with school children to educate them about football being a game for everyone and there being no place for racism or discrimination in any form.

Barrow Police obtained £1,500 funding from their Keswick to Barrow fund towards this event as well as getting some funding from football charity FSA.

There were more than 50 school children in attendance from the Furness area with a mix of Year 7 and Year 8 pupils from Walney, Furness Academy, Chetwynde and Dowdales Schools.

The workshops were run from Barrow AFC's community classrooms and it was hailed as a 'huge success'.

Workbooks were completed, participation discussions were lively, books on the subject were handed out, and the children enjoyed lunch as part of the day.

Their wider role following the event was to go back to their schools and peers and pass on their learning.

Immediately following these workshops Barrow AFC distributed more than 300 free tickets to attendees and other schoolchildren for their match versus Walsall.

A spokesman for Cumbria Police said: "It was also a pleasure to invite local Syrian families to the game together with asylum seeker residents from Hotel Majestic.

"This was all part of a national day of campaign to promote football as a game for everyone."

At half-time a banner was unfurled, to be permanently displayed on the Popular Side, ensuring the message remains clear to all that discrimination in any form will not be tolerated.

PC Wallbank said: "The whole week was a huge success, and I would like to thank everyone at Barrow AFC for facilitating this event. Also to the pupils who attended, they listened and learned and behaved impeccably.

"Let me be absolutely clear, Cumbria Police will not tolerate racism or discrimination in any form at The Dunes Hotel Stadium. If you hear or see it, report it. We will investigate any such reports robustly and those guilty of these offences will be dealt with by the courts and will not be welcome at the club."​