District of Recklinghausen/Bottrop - "Sport connects": police, schools, and school administration report successful outcomes
Police's 'Connections' Project Fosters Trust and Social Cohesion in Schools
On September 16, 2025, the police in Recklinghausen conducted the interactive prevention format titled 'Connections' at the Martin-Luther-Europaschule in Herten. This project, aimed at breaking down possible prejudices and fears, and sensitizing young people to societal values such as mutual respect, teamwork, tolerance, and empathy, has been held for the fourth time.
The format involved students solving a fictional crime case together with the police, with progress dependent on mastering coordinative and sporting tasks. The Wolfgang-Borchert-Gesamtschule and the Bernard-Overberg-Schule in Recklinghausen, as well as the Rosa-Parks-Schule in Herten, have already hosted the event.
School principal Christoph Schenk praised the students' motivation and team spirit during the event. He noted that the format allowed for authentic encounters and deepened understanding between school and police in the long term. Conversations and tangible appreciation characterized the interaction between students and police officers.
Recklinghausen's police president, Friederike Zurhausen, stated that the goal of the project was to foster trust in the state and its police among young people. Teachers described the 'Connections' format as a 'modern form of police work with a preventive side effect'.
Brigitte Rode, from the school administration of Herten, emphasized the significance of innovative prevention formats like 'Connections'. She expressed her belief that such initiatives play a crucial role in fostering social cohesion in schools.
The organization that first conducted the sport-interaction-prevention measure 'Connections' four years ago and plans to permanently integrate it into its range of crime prevention measures is the SPORTUNION. The PP Recklinghausen aims to continue the 'Connections' action in the future and integrate it permanently into the catalog of criminal preventive measures.
The 'Connections' project has shown potential in attracting new talent to the public service, as it sparks interest in the police profession. The police in Recklinghausen encourages other schools to participate in this unique and engaging project.
For more information, press inquiries can be directed to the Press Office Recklinghausen at 02361 55 1031 or [email protected]. Follow updates also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/polizei.nrw.re.
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