A GOVERNMENT report into sexual offences by young people has praised Lancashire's Youth Offending team.

Criminal justice inspectors visited seven local authorities, including Lancashire, to gather evidence about good practice and what could be done better in these sensitive cases.

The report, out yesterday, found that overall there was good work but that signs of sexual offending could be recognised and addressed much earlier – using examples of good practice from Lancashire to illustrate this.

Staff from Lancashire's Youth Offending team are joining Liz Calderbank, the chief inspector of probation, to help present the findings and launch the report.

Work in schools in Lancashire was praised by the report, which said: “..we saw some excellent examples of risk assessments and risk management plans completed by schools who worked closely with the child or young person and their parents/carers."

County Councillor Mark Perks, Cabinet Member for Young People, said: “We were pleased to have the chance to take part in the research for this important report.

“Sexualised behaviour among young people is something that workers can find difficult to accept but our experience is that facing these issues in the open and in partnership with other agencies is what works best.”