BURNLEY'S unique programme to combat juvenile nuisance is attracting attention not only from police forces all over this country but from the Middle East as well.

Ruth Geva, Chief Superintendent in charge of the research and evaluation section of the Israeli police in Jerusalem has written asking for details of Burnley's Manners scheme.

Manners - standing for Multiple Agency Nuisance Eradication and Reduction Strategy, has led to a 24 per cent cut in juvenile-related nuisance problems in Burnley in the first year.

Sgt Jim Masterman, head of the community section, said: "Fame of the programme has obviously spread far and wide.

"I don't know if the problems in Jerusalem are the same as those in Burnley but we shall be sending details to the police in Israel.'' Police forces from Hertfordshire and Warrington have already sent representatives to Burnley to see the scheme for themselves, and others from Southwark in London are due shortly.

The Manners programme involves the close co-operation between police, Burnley Council, probation and other services.

It involves a wide range of measures, some of them national "firsts'', in an effort to combat juvenile problems such as general nuisance, under-age drinking, drugs and the crime that causes.

Youngsters causing a nuisance are often caught on film and the video is shown to their parents who can see what their children are up to.

Police keep a nuisance register of individuals and their activities.

The programme also includes truancy plan. Officers in plain clothes stop children who are in the town centre when they should be at school.

Youngsters are not taken back to school or back home but to the local welfare education officers.

At the same time, Burnley Police have a continuing campaign to prevent the sale of alcohol to young people and various measures taken in the fight to stop drugs misuse and to educate youngsters about the dangers of drugs.

Positive steps are taken to provide youngsters with things to do and places where they can meet without causing offence.

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