Scotland's first special court to tackle youth crime will start sitting in May, Justice Minister Jim Wallace has confirmed.

The idea of a youth court follows the success of special courts dealing with drug-related crime.

Mr Wallace said a two-year pilot scheme will get under way in Hamilton in May.

The proposal follows increasing concern about the level of youth crime in Scotland and comes after the announcement of a 10-point "action plan" announced by the Scottish Executive in June 2002.

The youth court is not just about punishment, although appropriate punishment is certainly a major component, Jim Wallace

Mr Wallace said the aim will be to focus on persistent young offenders in the 16-17 age group.

However, the court will also have, in certain circumstances, the ability to deal with cases involving 15-year-olds.

Mr Wallace said: "Tackling the problem of persistent young offenders; making our communities safer and at the same time improving the effectiveness of the system has been the focus of our work on youth justice issues this parliament.

"Piloting the youth court is the next step in this agenda.

"The youth court is not just about punishment, although appropriate punishment is certainly a major component, it's also about addressing the problems that lead some young people to offend in the first place."

Mr Wallace said the youth court will have three key elements:

• a "fast track" approach, whereby the majority of alleged offenders will make their first court appearance within 10 days of being charged, which is much shorter than under the current system

• a special group of sheriffs who will closely supervise every teenager who is the subject of a youth court order

• a greater level of support services to help tackle social problems faced by young offenders and programmes to help prevent reoffending.

Opposition parties have criticised the executive's initiative.

The Scottish National Party described it as a piecemeal approach and said it wants domestic abuse, youth crime and civil matters like divorce to be handled by Family Courts.

The Conservatives said the youth courts are a soft option, that 16 and 17-year-olds are old enough to account for their actions and that they should be dealt with by the adult courts.

The existing system of Children's Panels is internationally regarded for its dealings with young people at risk or in trouble with the law.

But ministers see youth crime as a problem affecting the quality of life in many communities.