A NEW penalty scheme for the worst young offenders will be launched today.

Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes will launch the £45m Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP), funded by the Home Office and managed by the Youth Justice Board, at Newcastle Civic Centre.

Aimed at the 2,500 most prolific young offenders in England and Wales, it involves close surveillance, including electronic tagging, voice verification and intensive supervision.

So far, the North of the Tyne scheme, run by Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Youth Offending Teams, has dealt with 17 prolific offenders.

During the next three years, it plans to process 240.

As part of the programme's intensive supervision element, offenders are given at least 25 hours of contact time in the first three months.

It also involves education, training, offending behaviour programmes, reparation to victims and family support.

Ms Hughes said: "The Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme is no soft option.

"It gives magistrates a robust alternative to custodial sentences, dealing with persistent young offenders within a community setting.

"This approach ensures that the lives of these young people are not disrupted, while at the same time ensuring the public is protected."

Paul Brownlee, North of Tyne ISSP coordinator, said: "The unprecedented levels of supervision, coupled with the use of electronic monitoring, is proving to be an effective alternative to custody for some of the most prolific offenders in our region."