MEMBERS of the public are being recruited to work with young offenders and their families in a new scheme aimed at tackling youth crime.

Darlington Youth Offending and Community Safety is looking for people to join youth offender panels, which are due to be set up in the town from next April.

First time offenders will work with the panels for between three and 12 months after a referral order from a magistrates court.

The panels will be made up of one member of the Youth Offending and Community Safety Service and at least two volunteers from the local community.

The role of this panel will be to prevent re-offending by tackling the behaviour problems that cause people to commit offences.

Work done by the volunteers may include family counselling, drug rehabilitation, anger management and dealing with truancy.

If young offenders fail to agree to a programme, or to comply to it, they will be referred back to the court and a different sentence will be given.

Andy Errington, Darlington Borough Council's head of youth offending and community safety services, said: "Ordinary members of the community will be able to sentence young people to take part in various activities that will help repair the harm they have caused and they will be able to work with the youngsters to prevent them from re-offending."

Volunteers will need to commit to two or three hours of their time every fortnight. If you would like to volunteer, please call (01325) 346226