A CHARITY match between a team of prison officers and a team of offenders held at HMP Hewell proved a great success.

Worcester Police Cricket Club worked with Worcestershire County Cricket Board and the prison to set up the match, which was held at the Hewell Road prison.

The match, entitled Beyond the Boundary, was originally the brainchild of prisoners who asked to play a charity cricket match that gives something back to the local community and helps reduce crime.

The officers played in their own free time, outside of working hours for the match that was designed to provide an element of restorative justice for victims of crime in the process.

The two teams had agreed a combined target of 200 runs before the match, to activate charitable donations, and they managed to smash this target - so hundreds of pounds was raised.

The match was won by the prisoners' team that managed to reach the winning target of 196 after losing nine wickets and with just eight balls left.

The sponsorship money collected will help fund crime prevention activities and the match helped to break down the barriers between prisoners and officers. 

People associated with local cricket clubs, who had been victims of crime, went along to discuss their specific individual experiences with the prisoners after the match.

Discussions were held over holding future events and how the prisoners could give back to the community, such as constructing new sight screens or other equipment for local cricket clubs.

West Mercia's deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Barrie Sheldon said: “It’s clear that sport is an excellent way of really making a difference in society, in a huge variety of different ways.

"The PCC has supported so many different sporting events and clubs across West Mercia, and although this specific event is slightly different by it’s very nature, it’s no different in terms of what it can help achieve regarding crime prevention and rehabilitation.

“It is an excellent initiative, and we are very grateful to the prison, the Worcestershire Cricket Board, and of course the police officers who gave up their free time to make it happen. I’m very much looking forward to seeing some of the outcomes coming to fruition down the line."

Charity donations are still being collected.

For more details visit justgiving.com/beyondtheboundary.