A PIONEERING scheme to keep young offenders out of jail is being trialed in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

West Mercia Probation service is one of only 11 areas across the country chosen to run the Intensive Control and Change Programme (ICCP) which has been designed to cut offending by 18 to 20-year-olds.

The scheme aims to cut crime by keeping offenders off the streets, tackling their behaviour, aiding rehabilitation and providing an alternative to prison for non-violent and non-sexual offenders.

As from this week, judges and magistrates now have the option to order young offenders to take part in the programme as an alternative to imposing a custodial sentence.

The scheme will see some offenders being electronically tagged so probation officers and police can monitor their movements and ensure they are meeting their curfews, as well as enabling officers to react swiftly if they breach any of their conditions of release.

The probation service will also work with Jobcentre Plus and Connexions to rehabilitate offenders through 25 hours of demanding activity a week.

This will include them having to spend 18 hours a week at an offending behaviour programme, in education, employment and training, in addition to seven hours a week of unpaid work in the community.

"This tough and demanding community penalty aims to provide a credible alternative to custody," said David Chantler, chief officer, West Mercia Probation.

"Short-term custodial sentences with no support or supervision after release can't fully address underlying problems and provide limited opportunity for rehabilitation".

The pilot scheme is set to be evaluated in April 2005.