POLICE are offering youngsters the chance to use new educational computing facilities to help them become good citizens.

Gateshead police are offering schools the chance to take advantage of a six-week educational programme based on citizenship, at their IT room.

The programme allows the children to visit the centre two to three days a week and use the facilities to work on topics such as road safety, and focus on improving their self-esteem.

The IT room is part of a broader scheme called Offbeat, designed to improve police relations with young people.

The latest programme has been made possible by an £800 donation from Newcastle Building Society.

Youth issues officer with the force, PC Ian Punton said: "The scheme began by offering school holiday activity sessions ranging from football to arts and crafts; targeting young people from deprived areas.

"In its first few weeks, back in 1998, figures showed a 50 per cent reduction in disorder calls to police.