A scheme targeting some of the city's most prolific young offenders has dramatically slashed crime.

Under the Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP) the children sign a six-month contract of behaviour. Since its launch in October 2001 the average convictions for those joining the scheme is 68, with one offence being committed every 14 days.

Jim Brady, ISSP manager, said that once on the scheme the number of offences reduces to one crime every 54 days. And they are usually of a less serious nature,

"If you've got a young person with a record of persistently taking cars and driving them recklessly, and he's then in the programme and convicted of one offence of shop lifting, then if I was in his community I would vote for that," he said.

The children are under supervision for a minimum of a six-day, 25 hour week. They are involved in a range of activities, from community work to vocational training and education.

If they break the order or commit further serious offences they could return to custody.

The scheme, which receives annual Government funding of £350,000, can deal with up to 54 children a year.

"The basic thinking behind these schemes is that less than five per cent of young offenders commit more than 25 per cent of youth crime," Mr Brady said.

"If you can make an impact on that group you can make a disproportionately big effect over all on youth crime."

As well as reducing the number of offences while on the scheme, Mr Brady said it was having an effect on re-offending rates. "The re-offending rate from custody is exceptionally high," he said. "We are in the early days in terms of re-offending rates, but the anecdotal evidence is that these young people who used to trouble the police on a daily basis have gone off their radar."

Ted Wallis, chairman of the Youth Panel, said the scheme is seen as a success by magistrates at the Youth Court.

"We see it as a very positive way of dealing with young people who are on the verge of being locked up," he said.

"It really seems to work. I know the re-offending rate of those young people drops dramatically. While on the scheme it's zero, more or less."

He attributed its success to the intense supervision. "Previously they were put on a supervision order and were seen twice a week, but this is every day all day,"

Mr Wallis said: "I think one of the reasons it works is for most of these children it's the first time anyone has shown any interest in them."

Bradford Council leader, Councillor Margaret Eaton, said the partnership between police, the National Association for Care and Resettlement of Offenders, Bradford Council and youth courts was a key part of the scheme's success.

"This partnership programme is making tremendous progress in reducing the frequency and seriousness of crimes committed by persistent young offenders," she said.