Youth courts and specialist children's hearings to deal with persistent young offenders are to be piloted in Scotland.

The proposals form part of a 10-point plan to tackle youth crime unveiled by the Scottish Executive.

Officials are working on the details of a pilot scheme for youth courts, which will be modelled on the specialist drugs courts introduced last year.

Sheriffs will be given specialist training to help 16 and 17-year-old persistent offenders to break their criminal habits.

Jack McConnell: 10-point plan

The plan includes a proposal to pilot special fast track children's hearing for persistent offenders under the age of 16.

This would involve more training for members of children's panels to enable them to better respond to what the executive calls "the complex issues" raised by persistent offenders.

The package also includes a project to see if youth courts would be feasible for persistent offenders aged 16 and 17, with "some flexibility" to include 15-year-olds.

Other elements of the youth crime package include reviewing the use of restriction of liberty orders and considering a Scotland-wide system of police warnings for errant youngsters.

'Decisive action'

The executive is also considering creating more secure accommodation including some girls-only accommodation.

First Minister Jack McConnell said youth crime was "a serious issue affecting our communities" and said the ministerial group set up to look at the issue had taken "swift and decisive action" in drawing up the action plan.

Justice Minister Jim Wallace added: "This is clearly an issue that is very much on the minds of many communities and I think it was important that the ministerial group was set up."

The pair also seemed to rule out suggestions that the parents of unruly youngsters could be jailed for their children's actions.

This is clearly an issue that is very much on the minds of many communities

Justice Minister Jim Wallace

Mr McConnell said parents could be sent to prison under current laws - but only for their own actions, such as failing to attend Children's Hearings.

The first minister also said he hoped the three-month high visibility policing scheme planned from October to December will also curb youth offending.

But the plan has been dismissed as all words and no action by the Scottish National Party, while the Tories said it did not do enough to tackle young thugs.

Last month, deputy Justice Minister Dr Richard Simpson embarrassed the executive when he told the Scottish Parliament that juvenile courts in England had been "a disaster".

Opposition parties seized on the split in Labour ranks with Tory leader David McLetchie claiming the party's policy on youth crime was in "total disarray".