JUSTICE MINISTER Kenny MacAskill launched a “twilight basketball” scheme in Dundee yesterday and he said it would show young people “there is more to life than drink, drugs and offending.”

The scheme is funded with almost £1.8 million taken from criminals.

It is up and running in Glasgow and is being extended to include 12,000 young people in Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Inverness and Stirling.

The latest phase of the Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities scheme will invest money taken from criminals over three years in the night-time sessions on Fridays and Saturdays and in school basketball activities.

“Although our cities are great places to live and work, there are areas within them that are blighted by anti-social behaviour and youth disorder,” Mr MacAskill said.

“The devil finds work for idle hands and that is why this government is committed to giving our young people positive things to do with their lives. We want to show them that there is more to life than drink, drugs and offending.

“Basketball as a street game can help stop kids from getting into trouble or up to mischief. It’s a game they watch on TV and see in other media outlets. Now they are getting a chance to play it.”

Scottish Sports Futures (SSF), working with Basket-ball Scotland, will deliver basketball activities in the five cities.

They will also provide support to schools and clubs outwith the cities.

The funding will enable SSF to deliver Jump2it, its basketball programme for primary schools, to the five cities, and for Basketball Scotland to work with schools and councils to increase secondary school participation.

The minister was joined by Rob Yanders, captain of the Scottish Rocks basketball team, at the launch in the Lynch Sports Centre.

Rob said, “In my early years I made some bad decisions which almost cost me my life. I worked my way through some difficult times.

“Because of this I have a good understanding of the challenges which face young people on the streets in Scotland.”

Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick said, “It is immensely satisfying that money taken from criminals can be turned into such healthy opportunities for sport for our young people.”

Dundee East MSP Shona Robison added, “CashBack for Communities has already impacted in Dundee over the past eight months with the proceeds of crime having been turned into a range of diversionary activities.”