City's £350,000 youth crime grant

A £350,000 government grant has been awarded to officials in Peterborough to tackle youth crime in the city.

The money will be used to help start seven crime-fighting initiatives as part of the government's £100m Youth Crime Action Plan (YCAP).

The plan is to stop anti-social behaviour, make schools and communities safer and help young people and families turn their life around.

One tactic is to use police powers to keep young people off the street.

The money will be spent on after-school patrols and street-based youth teams engaging young people hanging around.

'Funding crucial'

There will also be youth offending team workers in custody suites to identify and address young offenders' needs early on.

Home Office minister Alan Campbell said: "This funding is crucial in our fight against youth crime, both in terms of preventing young people turning to crime and protecting young people becoming victims of crime.

"Early indications show we are having real success up and down the country with YCAP improving lives and communities."

Norfolk Police Chief Constable Ian McPherson, who is also the young people's spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), said: "Continued engagement with young people through neighbourhood policing and safer schools partnerships will help to develop and maintain these positive relationships from early years into adulthood.

"This funding will ensure that this work continues."