SERVICES to help young offenders in Darlington stay away from crime are having a positive effect, according to a report.

The borough council's youth service has been given two high grades following an assessment by the national Youth Justice Board.

The first area to improve was the parent support service, which works with families who have children at risk of offending, anti-social behaviour or substance misuse.

Parents are offered help ranging from information on appropriate services to providing a ten-week course on parenting skills.

Under the final warnings scheme, when a young person gets into trouble for the first time they usually get a police reprimand.

But if they do so again, they are given a final warning, which includes an assessment of how the service can help stop further offending is carried out.

The Darlington team has an 80 per cent success rate of young people not re-offending after a final warning.

Bill Dixon, the council's cabinet member for public protection, said: "This assessment shows the youth offending team provide a high-quality service that maintains a high standard for our young people.

"The team will now work to build on its success to make even more improvements."