MERSEYSIDE’S top-ranking police officers clambered into a dragonboat yesterday to take on the best of the region’s youth.

Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe headed a team which included his deputy, Bernard Lawson, two assistant chief constables and two chief superintendents.

But the long arm of the law was not long enough to catch and reel in a team of youngsters from the north of Liverpool.

Not even the presence of RAF and army representatives or even Everton FC and England goalkeeper Rachel Brown stopped Liverpool North Police Cadets’ team winning the river race.

This was the third annual Chief’s Challenge Dragon Boat race which was followed by a competition that drew more than 400 youngsters to the River Mersey.

Organiser Insp Colin Lewis, who heads the force youth unit, said: “This is a challenge to young people to do something different and come into an environment where they can engage with police officers.

“We obviously have a strong enforcement remit in the police which the public demands of us but we’ve also got a strong engagement capacity and this is the flagship event in that programme.”

The day’s races saw 24 teams, each made up of 17 young people aged between 10 and 19 from across Merseyside, battle it out to reach the final.

Each crew represented the policing districts of Liverpool North, Liverpool South, Wirral, Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens.

It was Liverpool North Police Cadets team that romped home with an overall win to add to their earlier victory over the senior police team.

The Police Brass Band provided entertainment on the Salthouse dockside while the Next Wave tall ship hosted a VIP reception.

Insp Lewis added: “The atmosphere has been electric and the crews made a lot of noise which reaches those on the shore and spreads.”

As well as engaging young people, the event, organised by Merseyside Police, also celebrates the contribution to Liverpool life of the city’s Chinese community.

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