CYNICS may see it as yet another move in the battle by the parties to show the voters which of them is the toughest on crime, but Labour's proposed shake-up of the "failing" youth justice system will impress - if only because the stern approach is overdue.

Certainly, Shadow Home Secretary, Blackburn MP Jack Straw, who unveiled the plan today, seems undaunted by the reputation he is earning for his tough stance on law and order, having already pledged crackdowns on winos and hell neighbours, though it may distance him from the party's liberal Left wing.

Ordinary voters, however, may see nothing but plain common sense in his proposals, particularly that calling for a new "final warning" for young offenders to replace the present police cautioning system.

For what has been wrong with the current system - even though it has proved a deterrent in many cases - is that it has been abused by young criminals who are aware that all they are likely to get if they re-offend after being cautioned are only more cautions.

If Labour's "final warning" ends the futility of multiple cautions much good will have been done.

But, of course, for it to be effective, what follows it must also be potent.

Do we, then, see that in Mr Straw's pledge today of "more effective" use of secure accommodation for persistent young offenders?

For one of the great failings of the youth justice system has been the powerlessness of the courts to impose this penalty on age grounds and the consequent effect that many young criminals, virtually untouchable as a result, are hardened offenders by the time they do come within the scope of custodial punishment.

Together with the plans for speeding up the youth court system, making juvenile offenders and their families face up to their behaviour and intensive community sentences for the convicted, these proposals are bound to be welcomed.

A few with liberal sentiments may, however, baulk at this "get tough" stance.

But, surely, the best response to such objections is that their approach has been tried for years without success - as any resident of a crime-plagued housing estate in East Lancashire and elsewhere could wearily explain.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.