Lessons aimed at keeping children on the straight and narrow could be taught in schools next year.

The Government is supporting the production of an education pack to be sent to every secondary school in Middlesbrough.

A key element will be a DVD with a crime story line. It will take pupils through the investigation process, preparing for court, appearing in court, sentencing and rehabilitation.

Cleveland Chief Constable Sean Price said: "The aim will be to show the different roles of the various agencies, including the police, victim and witness support services, the Crown Prosecution Service, the courts, probation, youth offending and prison services, and show how they work together.

"Hopefully, it will also raise the awareness of young people that they have a role as citizens in supporting the work of the agencies, for example in reporting crimes, being prepared to provide information and appearing as witnesses."

The pack will be produced by the Cleveland Criminal Justice Board, of which Mr Price is chairman, but with the advice of teachers and education officials.

He said: "Local criminal justice boards throughout the country were invited to submit proposals to the Office for Criminal Justice Reform for projects they wished to develop in their area. We felt that getting the message across to young people was an interesting and very important challenge.

"We are developing the project in conjunction with a number of local teachers and the Middlesbrough Council education service because what is important is that we produce a pack that can be of practical use in the schools.''

Initially, the pack will be targeted at 14 to 16-year-olds, but could be developed for other age groups if it is successful.

The DVD-pack is expected to be ready for piloting in schools early next year.