A COMMUNITY group set up to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour among young people has been shortlisted in a Europe-wide awards scheme.

The Youth Works project based in Sudellside, Darwen, will compete in the European Crime Prevention Awards to be held in Belgium in November.

The group, set up in 1997 as a partnership between the public and private sector, was shortlisted after being named in the top five crime reduction projects in the British Community Safety Awards 2000, sponsored by Norwich Union.

They were receiving their award from the Princess Royal during a glittering ceremony in London today.

Youth Works was picked out from more than 270 entries by a panel of judges working with national charity Crime Concern. The judges said Youth Works represented a true partnership approach and had achieved remarkable success.

They went on: "They have reduced levels of crime and anti-social behaviour among young people as well as tackling the problems of youth unemployment, truancy and school exclusion and drug misuse.

"The project has delivered by involving the community in finding the solutions to these problems and project workers have been recruited locally to empower volunteers and create a skills base in the area which will remain long after it's lifetime."

The project has worked with more than 500 young people and their families, offering support through a drop-in centre and providing the opportunity to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, as well as a health service for young women and a refuge for those excluded from school.

The judges went on: "Between 1997 and 1999 total crime in the area has fallen by more than 33 per cent, with a reduction in burglaries of 50 per cent and juvenile nuisance by 12 per cent.

"Well done."