A LEADING figure in a county's efforts to tackle youth crime has been suspended on full pay, The Northern Echo has learnt.

Christina Blythe, the head of County Durham's Youth Engagement Service, is thought to have been off work for several months as a result of action taken by council bosses.

Mrs Blythe joined the service, formerly the Youth Offending Service, as its head when it was set up in 2000.

No reason has been given publicly for her suspension.

The multi-agency Youth Engagement Service, which employs about 150 staff, is responsible for tackling youth offending.

The organisation draws together the likes of the police, probation, courts, health services and local councils and works with young offenders and victims of crime.

It encourages young offenders to repair the harm they have done by making amends to their victim or the wider community, and enables them to use their leisure time more constructively.

A spokesman for Durham County Council, which operates the service, said: "The suspension has been in effect for a number of months, and is on full pay and without prejudice.

"We are unable to comment specifically on individual cases. However, the act of suspension is a neutral act and does not imply any wrongdoing within the Durham County Council policy guidelines."

Councillor Claire Vasey, the council's cabinet member for children and young people's services, said she was aware of the suspension, but declined to comment further.

Mrs Blythe is a former deputy headteacher and acting headteacher and acted previously in an advisory teaching capacity for Durham education authority. When contacted by The Northern Echo last night, she said she could not comment.

Under Mrs Blythe's charge the youth service has made rapid strides and, three years ago, Government inspectors described it as one of the most effective in the country

Their report said its performance in preventing offending and re-offending by young people was "exceptional"