The teenagers are encouraged to improve their behaviour

A dramatic reduction in crime is being reported in Birtley where young people are being urged to sign up to new codes of conduct committing them to good behaviour.

Crime has dropped by a significant 23% in the six weeks since the Acceptable Behaviour Contracts were introduced in May.

A total of 20 young people, aged 10-18, from Birtley, near Gateshead, have signed up to the new contracts, and so far only one has been broken.

The youngsters are now being encouraged to play a vital role in their local community as well-behaved members of the local community.

They are also being persuaded to make the most of their local facilities, from the school's playing fields to the swimming pool and the local leisure centre.

'Own decisions'

This contracts are part of Operation Blizzard which brings together local authority tenants, residents and parents in the fight to combat crime to the south of Gateshead borough.

The operation is being run by Northumbria Police and Gateshead council.

Regional crime director at Government Office North East, Fiona Young, said: "It is proving to be a useful way of addressing bad behaviour and encouraging co-operation with others.

"At the same time it is still enabling these young people to feel that they have the freedom to make their own decisions."