ESSEX Chief Constable Roger Baker has backed plans to track young tearaways to stop them turning to a life of crime.

A new plan has been launched to spread details of troubled youngsters between police, probation and local authorities to monitor their development and stop them before they get into trouble.

The initiative, which is the brainchild of the Association of Chief Police Officers, would also see some schools given a full-time police presence.

Th association's youth action plan for England, Wales and Northern Ireland would target young people believed to be at risk of becoming young offenders and control their behaviour.

It would also target those already inside the criminal justice system with the aim of preventing them becoming prolific career criminals.

Mr Baker said: "While it is a small proportion of young people who commit crime, some of them do go on to become prolific offenders and cause great suffering and misery within our communities.

"It is vital we have processes in place to identify these young people early in their criminal careers and develop the best youth justice practice to divert them from crime into more positive activities and lifestyles. "

He said persistent or serious offenders would face the "full weight of the law" and be rehabilitated afterwards within their communities.

The move was welcomed by the Government.

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker said: "In particular, I support the emphasis placed on prevention and engaging young people in their communities to identify and support those at risk."