The Conservatives are shifting the direction of their law and order agenda to put the focus on tackling youth crime - including identifying potential criminals at the age of five.

In a pamphlet to be launched on Thursday, shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin says there must be earlier intervention to stop young children starting a life of crime.

He will say that much crime can be prevented if the State intervenes with failing families where children are in danger of falling into crime, even as young as five years old.

Providing exits from the conveyor belt to crime is critical to achieving what I have termed a neighbourly society

Oliver Letwin, shadow Home Secretary

This idea is likely to aggravate traditionalists in the party who tend to prefer a short, sharp shock approach to youth crime.

Tackling youth crime is regarded by the Conservatives as the key to improving law and order.

The party's policy rethink - entitled the 'Conveyor Belt to Crime' - says the time to intervene is when young people show the first signs of starting a life of crime.

The leaflet said: "Some parents benefit from guidance on how to give their children discipline, consistent boundaries and reinforcement of positive behaviour."

Three quarters of those with a criminal record had their first conviction before they reached their early 20s.

Letwin: Identify children at risk

The peak hour for street crime was not after 11 o'clock when the pubs shut but was now between four and five in the afternoon, after children left school.

Shadow Home Secretary Oliver Letwin says the priority must be to identify children at risk, sometimes as young as five, give support and guidance to their parents and strengthen neighbourhood policing.

He said: "We are putting youth crime at the top of our law and order agenda.

"We have analysed the roots of disruptive behaviour and crime in immense detail, and are making it clear that providing exits from the conveyor belt to crime is critical to achieving what I have termed a neighbourly society."

Such a heavy emphasis on politicians interfering in family affairs contrasts sharply with Thatcher-era Tory politics.

'Liberal' rebuke

Lord Tebbit earlier in the year described Mr Letwin as a "Hampstead Liberal" and suggested Home Secretary David Blunkett should join the Conservative Party.

The Conservatives say they will be announcing detailed proposals at the party conference the week after next.

It states that under-18s commit 45% of robberies and 36% of burglaries - far higher than in the EU as a whole, where the figures are 23% and 28%.

It also criticises Labour for allowing police clear-up rates to fall by more than 1.5% a year, three times the rate under the Conservatives.