An extra 25 places in secure accommodation are to be provided to help tackle youth crime.

The move is part of an action plan by the Scottish Executive to reduce the number of persistent young offenders by 10% by 2006.

The extra allocation takes the total number of secure places for young offenders in Scotland to 121.

It will also provide facilities for girls and young women and help improve rehabilitation programmes across the country.

Cathy Jamieson: "Major problem"

An additional �15m was made available for the action plan this year.

Last week's executive spending review also revealed that an extra �33m would be spent on tackling youth crime over the next three years.

Cathy Jamieson, Minister for Education and Young People, said: "Youth crime is a major problem that affects all our communities.

"We need a modern secure estate fit for the 21st century for those young people who offend and those who are offended against.

Specialist provision

"By providing additional places we will be able to offer much needed facilities for girls and young women and, as far as possible, avoid under-16s being remanded to young offenders institutions.

"We must ensure that places are available for every young person who needs them."

Ms Jamieson said the additional cash being set aside to tackle youth crime will help improve rehabilitation programmes and provide specialist provision for sex offenders and young people with mental health problems.

She added: "Specialist children's hearings and the development of youth courts will go a long way to tackle the problem of persistent young offenders."