A WEARSIDE agency dedicated to tackling youth crime has been named as the top team in the country.

Sunderland's Youth Offending Team has been recognised by its governing body, the Youth Justice board, as joint best of 154 teams nationwide.

The ranking is based on recent performance tables, in which the Sunderland team received consistently high scores across a range of services.

The scheme has gone from strength-to-strength since being set up four years ago as a pilot project to tackle crime among ten to 17-year-olds.

Team manager Helen Watson said: "Our success in tackling youth crime and disorder is based on strong partnerships between the service and the community, local businesses and a host of other agencies.

"The dedication of our staff has also contributed to this achievement, in preventing crime, offering victims and parents support and improving public safety.

"We're proud of what we've been able to achieve in helping to make Sunderland a better and safer community in which to live and work."

The Sunderland team has won regional and national acclaim for several of its schemes, including the Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme, the Restorative Justice scheme and the Referral Orders schemes.