ST HELENS has led the way in the introduction of the Final Warning scheme - one of the Government's key measures to tackling youth crime.

While it is due for implementation nationally in April next year, St Helens and Wirral have been running pilot projects to identify the best way to make the scheme work.

Having looked at both models, Merseyside Police have opted for the St Helens approach to be applied across the whole of Merseyside. They believe the approach is simpler and closer to what the Government intended.

The scheme ensures that first and second-time offenders are confronted with the consequences of their offending and requires a close working relationship between the police and the Youth Offending Team operated by St Helens Council's social services department.

Under the scheme, work has to begin with young people within two days of the offender being caught.

Manager of the Youth Offending Team, Bob Smith, said: "Our staff and local police officers gave a great deal of thought to how best to implement the scheme. The decision is a tribute to the close working relationship between the local authority and the police in St Helens.

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