YOUNGSTERS out late at night without a good reason could be rounded up and taken to a children’s centre as part of a new scheme.

Southend Council’s youth offending service would then contact parents to pick up their children, or have them returned home by officers.

Any parts of town where there are deemed to be problems with teenage yobs would be targeted as part of the new scheme.

The council has received a £65,000 grant from the Government towards the Youth Crime Action Plan, and this is one of a number of measures set to be introduced.

Carol Compton, head of the youth offending service, said: “We recognise the need to focus on the concerns and priorities of the community. We want to send a strong measure to young people in the town that they must play by the rules.”

Police or council workers would take the youngsters to one of 12 Surestart centres in Southend, which have been built to provide advice and care facilities for parents and children.

However, there have been concern raised by some councillors, who hope the policy would not be too heavy handed.

Ian Robertson, councillor responsible for public protection, said: “It obviously makes sense to keep youngsters who are causing trouble off the streets.

“But I have concerns there could be difficulties in operating this policy. Youngsters who have a real reason for being in a certain place late at night could become mixed up with it through no fault of their own. As with all these policies, enforcement can sometimes be a problem and we would have to make sure we got things right.”

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