YOUTH crime in Harrow has fallen again, according to new figures.

The number of youngsters aged from 10 to 17 who committed offences in 2003 dropped by 21.5 per cent from the previous year, the borough's Youth Offending Team revealed last week.

The team's annual report to the Youth Justice Board showed that there has been a 10 per cent fall in the overall number of offences, from 624 to 562. The rate of re-offending also fell, by 48 per cent.

Since 2001, there have been decreases in most types of offences: burglary is down by 66.6; theft and handling stolen goods by 50 per cent; drug offences by 38.9 per cent; and violent crimes by 7.3 per cent.

But there were rises in motoring offences and vehicle theft, although the YOT said local levels were still well below the national average.

Team leader Richard Segalov said: "These continued good results come as a result of the way that many agencies work together in partnership in Harrow.

"That includes the local police, the Crime Reduction Unit, Youth and Connexions Service, Community Drug and Alcohol Service, and the local authority.

"Everyone has a part to play, and by sharing information and helping provide a seamless service for young people, we are pleased with the successes reflected in these figures.

"We are particularly delighted at the reductions in re-offending rates.

"Our whole purpose is to help young people who make mistakes get back on the right road.

"Some who have been starting out on a road to crime have been helped by the YOT to change direction altogether.

"It shows that robust community sentences work."

The figures cover January 1 to December 31, 2003, and show the number of convictions in the age group 10 to 17 of young people normally resident in Harrow. In 2001, 348 young people were convicted of an offence in Harrow; in 2002 there were 335, and last year there were 263.