The success of Wiltshire probation service's American-style anger management scheme means the pioneering approach will be used in other parts of the country.

The programme has helped to reduce reoffending rates by 14 %.

The county's probation officers have spent four years researching Aggression Replacement Training.

The programme - the brainchild of American professor Arnold Goldstein - looks not only at anger control but also considers the moral reasoning behind offending.

Independent research

Graham Beech, the county's assistant chief probation officer said it was a three-point programme.

"Firstly there is anger control. We use skills and intervention techniques to help offenders control a situation when they are angry," he said.

"Secondly we work with them on identifying those situations that are problematic - when they routinely become angry.

"Thirdly people have to choose to behave in a particular way - in a pro-social way or an anti- social way - and we help to look ways of promoting the pro-social ways."

ART. targets offenders on community rehabilitation orders from courts, those released on licence from custody and anyone who has a problem with anger control.