MORE children found wandering the streets of Southend at night will be taken to a safe place as part of a series of crime-fighting projects.

The Home Office has granted £350,000 to run seven initiatives trialled over the past year to tackle antisocial behaviour.

These include Operation Stay, in which youth workers take vulnerable children found on the streets at night to a place of safety until a parent can pick them up.

It had a successful trial run over two days in February, when three boys, two aged 12, and another aged 13, were returned home after they were seen outside after 11pm.

Police will also step up after-school patrols, to deter antisocial behaviour, which involved about 15 schools during a trial.

In addition, street-based youth teams will engage with teenagers who hang around the town.

Between November and March, youth workers spoke to 313 youngsters about how intimidating they can appear to others when they stand about in groups, and what alternatives are available.

Carol Compton, head of Southend Council’s youth offending service, said: “We will continue building on the strong foundations we have started in Southend, working with our partner agencies and the community, involving young people in the solutions, rather than just the problems.”

The funding will also pay for family intervention projections, designed to help children who are at risk of straying off the tracks.

But for those who insisit on breaking the law, the plan also provides for Friday and Saturday “pay back”, when youngsters have to work off their misdeeds.

The community will have more of a say in what type of work this should be, so they can see youngsters paying penance.

Mrs Compton said: “Antisocial behaviour hotspots will be targeted by ourselves and other agencies, enabling us to work with young people at risk of crime, and where help is most needed.

“By offering young people viable alternatives to antisocial behaviour and crime, we will help raise their aspirations.”

Southend will also receive a share of a £1.4million pot to tackle teenage binge drinking over the summer.

The town qualifies because it is one of the 69 youth crime priority areas in the country selected by the Home Office.

This will mean alcohol will be confiscated by police, and teenagers dispersed from troublespots across the borough.

It will also provide for one-to-one support to assist young people dealing with problem behaviour.