A NEW blueprint for tackling youth crime across Worcestershire has been agreed by councillors - after good progress was made in keeping young people out of trouble.

Worcestershire County Council has agreed a new Youth Justice Plan, which covers the entire West Mercia Police force area.

By Government law, councils across the country are required to draw up a plan for reducing youth offending.

The new plan focuses on additional help for first-time offenders who have entered the youth justice system, re-offending rates, and joined-up help across the region's councils to support the force in crime prevention.

The blueprint also reveals how across the whole of 2013, 463 youths become first-time entrants to the justice system in Worcestershire, compared to 535 previously, a 13 per cent fall.

It has already been endorsed by councils in Herefordshire, Shropshire, and Telford and Wrekin.

Leader Councillor Adrian Hardman, speaking during a full council meeting, said: "Generally, the youth justice plan has been successful and we've seen a decline in the rate of people entering the justice system, which is down 13 per cent and very welcome.

"The system has been through considerable reform and it would seem to me to be working well - the rate of young people going into custody is also down."

The plan is based around supporting the West Mercia Youth Offending Service, which is overseen by the councils.

It aims to intervene early in troubled families and make sure services like drug testing, unpaid work projects, mental health treatment and help in finding suitable accommodation for young people is readily available.

It also calls for extra supervision for youths who have been through court and are working towards completing their education.

The new plan will last until April 2015 and aims to show a further drop in the number of first-time entrants by then.

Councillor Liz Eyre, cabinet member for children and families, said: "It's a good plan and I am happy to back this."