A PROJECT to stop petty teenage criminals taking to a life of serious crime is being launched this week.

Barnardo's staff in Hartlepool will work with children who have been reported for low-level incidents of anti-social behaviour as part of the Families Accessing Support Team (Fast), which is launched tomorrow.

Community wardens and the police Anti-Social Behaviour Unit will be heavily involved and will refer youths to Barnardo's.

Project co-ordinator Martin Dearlove said: "Early intervention will include a home visit to parents.

"Workers will plan with families how the project can support the child and family, and make sure they are aware of the consequences of involvement in anti-social behaviour.

"Research on the causes of anti-social behaviour show there can be a link to wider social exclusion problems, such as ill-health, poverty, unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse. For Fast to be effective, it will need to consider all the issues going on in a family's life."

PC Shelly Watson, of the Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, said: "People who suffer from anti-social behaviour can be left feeling isolated, vulnerable and desperate. This can apply to whole communities, who believe they have been abandoned and left to fend for themselves. Intervention at the earliest stages of anti-social behaviour is crucial."

Other agencies involved include Belle Vue Sports Centre, Owton Fens Community Association, Hartlepool Families First and the West View Project.

They will offer a parenting service, a family befriending service and an outdoor activities programme.