A police chief says young law-breakers, who make up a quarter of all known criminals in the area covered by his force, need jobs to stop them from offending.

Nottinghamshire Chief Constable Steve Green wants major employers in Nottingham to provide work experience for youngsters who have been in trouble with the law.

"It's crucial that, as well as youngsters continuing their education, getting into employment is a way to get out of crime.

"This message doesn't just come from us - youth offenders themselves want jobs and the chance to prove themselves and get more self respect," he said.

Numbers rising

Mr Green said his officers arrested about 4,000 people under the age of 18 every year.

He told business leaders and youth workers at a conference at Portland College, near Mansfield, that the number of teenagers taken into custody was rising.

"Since the beginning of 2002 the number of under 18s in custody has increased and this goes for girls as well as boys," said Mr Green.

�10bn cost

"An even more alarming fact is that a quarter of all known offenders in this county are under 18 years."

He told the conference, organised by Nottinghamshire Police Community Safety Trust, that youth offending was estimated to cost the economy more than �10bn every year.

The meeting was the first in the area to bring together delegates from the police, social services, youth offending teams, local education areas and youth services, to discuss the problem of youth crime.