THE power of football provided the police with a platform to discuss their stop and search powers with local youngsters.
Teams from Wolves Foundation, Aston Villa Foundation and The Way Youth Zone joined Albion to go head-to-head in the Midlands Premier League Kicks competition, but not before taking part in a Smethwick Police stop and search workshop.
Amarjit Randhawa, Smethwick Police Community Support Officer, stressed the importance of the event being held to increase young people's understanding around the police's powers of searching.
"I think the Foundation holding things like this today is vital," he said.
"We asked about the trust in police and the young lads weren't that trusting, these workshops bridge the gap between us and them, which is very important."
45 footballers took part in the competition, a turnout that pleased Paul Blagrove, the Foundation's Kicks Coordinator.
"Its brilliant to see the other foundations here. We like to setup tournaments like this and to host it is really pleasing," he said.
"It's about bringing communities together from all around and breaking down barriers with the local police.
"It's also great to educate them about the stop and search."
For more information regarding the Foundation's Kicks work within the community, please email hayley.james@albionfoundation.co.uk.