The Cumbria Youth Offending Team is starting the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme.

The initiative involves curfews, electronic tagging and two surveillance checks every day and is offered to the courts as an alternative to custody.

The programme comes after government figures showed 3% of young offenders are responsible for 25% of youth crime.

The six-month programme provides structured timetables for a minimum of 25 hours a week to meet individuals' needs.

'Law-abiding citizens'

Cumbria County Council cabinet spokesman for care and social services, Councillor John Mallinson, said: "The Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme is an essential element in Cumbria's efforts to ensure that we have a safe and productive society.

"Through targeting the county's most serious and prolific offenders, we are confident that this approach will reduce the risk of offending.

"Cumbria Youth Offending Team will work with these young people to enhance their opportunities to become law-abiding citizens.

"At the same time, through challenging and monitoring young offenders' behaviour, we hope to ensure that people will feel protected and reassured."