Young offenders are to be encouraged to engage in their community as part of a scheme to make Bristol a safer place.

The city council is meeting on Tuesday evening to approve a three-year programme costing �2m.

Police, probation officers, social workers and health officials will work together to try to reduce the level of youth crime.

Richard Fell of Avon and Somerset Police said: "Instead of having just one system dealing with these young people, we're trying to give them a stake in the society.

'Do good'

"One of the major ways of doing that is to live and feel that you belong to a small community and to engage with that community.

"A few months ago I introduced an 18-year-old offender to the man whose car he assisted in stealing and he spent a weekend helping build an extension at the man's house.

"He gave something back and the pair of them were able to talk about the crime and that can only do good."

Bristol City Council leader, Diane Bunyan, said: "People can reel off the names of the offenders in their areas.

"We need to target young people before they get to that stage, as well as working with the ones who are there.

"Some of the things we've been doing are already making a difference."