Cash for 'problem' young people

There will be support for 3,000 teenagers to steer them away from crime

Twenty areas in England are to receive £13m to run schemes designed to stop young people turning to a life of anti-social behaviour and petty crime.

The government's intensive intervention projects will target problem parents, as well as challenging children.

Identified youngsters will be given one-to-one support and help with specific problems, such as drug abuse.

The programmes will be set up between 2008 and 2009, targeting up to 3,000 young people.

The 20 areas chosen to run the programmes are Gateshead, East Sussex, Sandwell, Bolton, Peterborough, Newcastle, Southampton, Newham, Manchester, Sheffield, Haringey, Middlesbrough, Bournemouth, Walsall, Nottingham, Northamptonshire, Trafford, Liverpool, Swindon and Birmingham.

'Non-negotiable'

Ministers believe youngsters often graduate from minor offences to more serious bad behaviour, leading to anti-social behaviour orders and criminal records.

It is hoped the intervention schemes will break this cycle.

The focus of these projects is on prevention and support Beverley Hughes, Children and Young People's Minister

The indentified "problem" young people will sign up to a contract which will be monitored by a key worker.

The support linked to the contract is "non-negotiable", the government says.

Children and Young People's Minister Beverley Hughes said: "These projects aim to help parents who often don't know where to go or who to turn to next to help them tackle the problem behaviour of their child.

"They are sometimes unable to get the support and help they need from local services.

"The focus of these projects is on prevention and support. It's non-negotiable and so we will intervene early to stop young people getting into a situation where their bad behaviour can spiral out of control and enforcement has to be used.

"But where enforcement is necessary it will be used and that will be made clear from the outset if young people don't co-operate."