A PIONEERING plan, which aims to push back York's tide of youth crime, has been launched in York.

The scheme, targeted at ten to 17-year-olds, will try to break the cycle of offending by tempting those on bail away from committing further crimes.

The York Youth Offending Team (YOT) hopes that by guiding tearaways back on to the straight and narrow, the remand support programme will make the city a safer place to be for residents.

Young offenders will be offered the help and guidance they need to ensure they do not re-offend while on bail.

Remand support co-ordinator Jayne Neal said: "The York remand support programme aims to reduce offending on bail by young people through offering local courts individual programmes of support for those awaiting trial or sentence.

"Young people on such a programme will be supported by workers who will work closely with local agencies to assist each defendant.

"Together we will be working to reduce the incidence of offending on bail and to ensure that young people are supported during the court process."

Young people will be assessed for a place on the programme and an action plan drawn up for them.

This will include a tailor-made list of services aimed at reducing the youth's risk of re-offending.

The action plan is presented to the court which then decides whether bail should be granted.

If the court accepts the programme as an option, bail may be granted on condition that the remand support programme's requirements are followed.

To ensure the programme is successful, the YOT is working with City of York Council's Detached Youth Work project which also provides support for young people.

The help provided will include emergency accommodation, careers advice, counselling for drug use as well as general information and support.

North Yorkshire police community safety officer John Bolton, working with Safer York Partnership, welcomed news of the launch.

He said: "The York Youth Offending team is doing excellent work on early intervention with young offenders in the city and this is another example of their initiatives which will reduce youth crime."