A PILOT scheme that aims to show young offenders the consequences of car crime has been launched in Hartlepool.

Hartlepool Youth Offending Service (YOS) is working with Cleveland Fire Brigade under the scheme, which involves offenders watching and taking part in training exercises. These include mock road accidents where casualties have to be rescued from vehicles.

The young people are all subject to reparation orders, which are intended to benefit the victims of crime or the community directly.

Paul Andrew, Hartlepool YOS reparation officer, said: "Hopefully, this reparation scheme will benefit the local community as a whole by making the young offenders think twice before committing car crimes again.

"Car theft in the town is a fairly common problem which affects not only the owner of the vehicle involved, but also innocent members of the public and the emergency services."

A fire brigade spokesman said: "Dealing with accidents involving casualties can be very harrowing for firefighters so we would welcome any initiative that might help to prevent them."

The pilot scheme's impact is to be reviewed by the YOS and, if successful, it may be repeated on a monthly basis.

Other reparation schemes include removing graffiti removal, gardening, delivering leaflets and painting.