Royal Navy campaign to tackle knife crime and gang culture returns to Teesside
It's been 18-months since the initiative came to Stockton
Last updated 6th Jun 2025
Royal Marines and sailors say they have created a 'lasting legacy' in the fight against knife crime and gang culture on Teesside.
The 'weapons down, gloves up' initiative looks to steer children and young people away from a life of crime by encouraging them to do combat sports and teaching them military values such as discipline, respect and comradeship.
Billy Moore is the lead mentor as he is a former drug and alcohol addict who spent 20 years in jail. He said: "We're bringing all the youngsters together to show them that there's a better way of living, that we can inspire them to change, show them a pathway of sport, being independent, taking responsibility and showing them that there's a positive way of living without the use of getting involved in gang culture and knife crime.
"For me, I needed that role model. I needed someone to show me that there was a better way of living. I spent 20 years in prison and when I saw the reality of what my life was really like, it shocked me. So what I do now is offer youngsters an opportunity, share a little bit of my experience, and just instill that hope that they're not alone.
"There's a lot of violence, there's a lot of drugs and alcohol taken. People aren't taking responsibility, they're wrecking the communities, they're destroying people's lives as well as their own and a lot of people are walking around in fear. Do you want to send your kids out to a war zone? Because that's what it's becoming, so yeah it's important for me to share that awareness and actually see visibility for myself as well.
"What I do is just chip away; 'don't go down this path that I went down' or 'you don't have to feel that way'. Some of them might listen and if it has an impact on one person then that's enough isn't it? If you can change one person's life then it'll have a ripple effect on the rest of their community.
"I see people change and I think 'wow. I've had a little bit of an influence in their life.' I've given a little bit back to the community and for me, it's all about making amends. If you're changing, then I'm making amends for my wrong-doings then that's what makes me vibe. I don't want to live with that shame because it's not the person I was that I am today."
The initiative recently returned to Stockton - the birthplace of the campaign - hosting their second session in 18-months at Contender Gym.
Royal Navy Petty Officer Aaron Snowdon is the physical training instructor and he said: "In this day and age, gang crime is massively on the rise and so is knife crime. It's rife. I mean military sort of goes alongside a lot of combat sports, there's a lot of simliar core values which can help with support and provide a structure for these kids to go into and hopefully take them away from that.
"There's been a little bit of introduction to initial military fitness and then we've also taking them into a few different martial arts disciplines of BJJ from the Navy and we've the Royal Navy Muay Thai come down who support a lot of gyms across the North of England to help support that output.
"I think the main part really is instilling those core values, which is a massive carrier between the martial arts world and the military world, and actually the core values is potentially missing within the younger generation; we're talking things like courage, commitment, self-discipline, all of which are integral to those avenues."
Families and young people were drawn to the Stockton event from as far afield as Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds.
Warrant Officer Dennis Harrison, who has been involved with the initiative since the start, said: "The project continues to grow from strength to strength. This marks a significant step toward establishing a lasting legacy in the Northeast and also ‘demonstrates the positive impact Royal Navy sport can have on communities.”
The coaches who are helping out
Kay Szoma, a Muay Thai coach at Contender Gym, said: "I love to see absolute progression and people's lives getting changed. I like to see how they come in and leave, it's a fantastic feeling for someone like myself and hopefully those I coach feel the same way.
"I've had bad experiences myself when I was a kid and I don't want all the youngsters going through that, even my son as well. He's been living here and he's seven-years old now.
"Get involved, get out and don't stay in. Don't stay on the streets or indoors, get them out, get them into martial arts, get the knowledge out there. It does make a difference. It really does. All it takes is just one step out of the door and just make your way down."
Hanna Holden is a boxer in Middlesbrough and she has helped with coaching at the session: "It's very inspiring because Muay Thai, boxing, MMA, all of those combat sports are male-dominated. I remember my first time in the gym, I was a little girl and I was the only little girl there, but now I'm seeing a lot of girls come through, it really does make my heart go out.
"Sport teaches people a lot of discipline. It teaches people morals because you know, you come in the gym, you box, obviously you're going to know what it feels like outside and it gives you that security that you know how defend yourself outside and as well as that, it gives you that community."
Kids taking part
Seven year-old Ace said: "I'm enjoying it very goodly. Very good and very nice. I've enjoyed it very well. I've been doing kickboxing since I was six and it's been brilliant because all of the trainers train you in sessions and you do different games.
13 year-old Talia said: "I enjoy it and I think it's really good in the long-term. Just coming, socialising and seeing everyone, I enjoy it. I think it's good what they're doing. It does help a lot. I think it gets a lot of kids off the streets and into gyms a lot more than getting kids out of the street doing things they shouldn't be doing.
"Just don't be lazy and come. It's fun and it's a lot better than being out on the street."