TEENAGE offenders are more likely to give up a life of crime if they take up sports, according to new research.

Instead of punishing youngsters who end up in trouble, youth offenders should be encouraged to kick a ball, pick up a tennis racquet or take up athletics.

Victor Jupp, principal lecturer in social research at Northumbria University, carried out research with 16 to 18-year-old offenders and ten to 16-year-olds who were at risk of becoming involved in crime.

He looked at a range of initiatives used by police, youth offending teams and social services which, through sport, help stop young people spiralling into a life of crime.

He focused on initiatives in Newcastle, Gateshead, Tees-side and the rural areas of Amble, Ulgham, Ellington, Pegswood and Lynemouth, in Northumberland. In some areas, there was a noticeable reduction in the number of arrests in the target group.

Mr Jupp said: "While it is difficult to prove that sport is responsible for this - there are other initiatives also in place in these deprived areas - it has to be seen as having a positive influence.

"With sporting initiatives, the youngsters see themselves as getting something out of their community and, in turn are more likely to give something back to it.

"The most important aspect is that sport appears to play a significant role in re-engaging young people back into the community."

Mr Jupp's research also proved that sport promotes positive lifestyles among young people, making them less likely to smoke or abuse alcohol or drugs.

The research was carried out on behalf of North East Sport - an organisation which seeks to promote the value of sport to the region.

The results will come as no surprise to officers involved in a pioneering scheme to encourage youngsters to take up fishing and stay away from crime.

North-East police officer PC Mick Watson was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the New Year's Honours List after setting up the Get Hooked on Fishing project in 2000.

In its first two years, he involved 200 boys and girls from ages ten to 16, including 65 said to be at risk from falling into crime, and after its success he was seconded to introduce the project to six other areas in England and Wales.