A South Croydon youth worker is fighting crime with an unlikely ally, the console game system.

Mark Bonam, 39, works as a youth worker for the Croham Road Baptist Church, looking after not only the children of the church’s flock but also youths from the area.

As a volunteer in Honduras, Mr Bonham saw gangs more criminal than those in Croydon who, according to him, are just bored.

After speaking to teenagers at Haling Manor and Archbishop Tenison schools, he came up with the idea of creating the group, Resurrection Games, where youths can get together and play in computer game tournaments.

Two groups are currently running twice a month on Fridays for 11 to 14-year-olds and 14 to 18-year-olds from 7pm until 11pm.

Mr Bonam said: “I struck a deal with the church that we wouldn’t play restricted games or over-18s and in return we got to set up nine Xboxes with 22-inch flat screens.

“The main thing kids do around here is drink, so I wanted to create somewhere the kids could go and do something constructive.

“The idea started with my teenage son and after speaking to the schools we started up the group at the church.”

Working with Croham safer neighbourhood team since April, Mr Bonam has drafted in more than 140 youths to take part.

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