Crackdown on young truants.

Byline: By Steve Johnson 

A NEW crackdown aimed at keeping at-risk youngsters from a life of crime is being launched in Sandwell.

The special programme will target children aged eight to 13 judged to be in danger of offending or antisocial behaviour.

The crackdown will pick up on early signs that something may be wrong - such as a child regularly playing truant - and will take youngsters under the umbrella of a special network of agencies.

They will work together in a concerted effort to give children extra help and support in time to prevent them from going off the rails and possibly ruining their lives.

The programme is being piloted in Oldbury and Smethwick and will be fully operational across the whole of Sandwell by next February.

The new Youth Inclusion and Support Programme will be unveiled at West Bromwich Albio n ' s Hawthorns stadium tomorrow.

The project, supported by the Youth Justice Board and the Children's Fund, is specifically aimed at the region's youngsters deemed to be at risk of getting involved in offending or anti-social behaviour.

Any youngsters referred to the project will come under the miscroscope of various agencies involved in working with families and will make sure that the necessary measures are provided in time to hopefully nip potential problems in the bud and deter children from going off the rails.

The project includes a six-strong team of child support workers.

Programme manager Sharron Miller said today: "We will be working with young people before they enter the criminal justice system.

"We shall get in early, and pick up on signs that something may be going wrong - a child regularly missing school for example - and try to steer them away from offending behaviour."

Sandwell Council cabinet member Coun Derek Rowley said YISP had a "common sense" approach.

"Working with children and young people before they go off the rails means there is no crime committed, and crucially no victim of any crime.

"That has got to be good for society as a whole."

Agencies involved in YISP include police, the fire service, social services, education, anti-social behaviour workers, town team co-ordinators and voluntary organisations.