INCREASED efforts to involve youngsters in sport are believed to have led to a dramatic fall in youth crime in Newham.

As part of London's bid for the 2012 Games, the Government invested up to £1m to encourage young people to take up sport and over 64,000 have participated in 28 different Olympic-related activities.

The number of young people appearing in court for the first time has dropped 25 per cent while the initiatives have been running, compared to a one per cent fall in London as whole.

Overall the number of juvenile court appearances, including first-time and repeat offenders, has fallen by 38 per cent in the last 12 months.

Young people in the borough have been taking advantage of voluntary community schemes, providing activities like cycling, football, gymnastics and swimming free of charge.

In some cases, repeat offenders have entered into a legally binding contract that makes participation in sporting activities a compulsory part of their rehabilitation.

Forty after-school clubs based on estates around the borough have attracted 16,000 young people and special discount passes have enabled many to access local facilities.

There are other encouraging signs in the borough with figures that show 89 per cent of likely young offenders reported as being in education, compared to only two-thirds in September last year.

Mayor Sir Robin Wales said: "Our activities have helped keep our young people occupied and away from crime and anti-social behaviour.

"We will continue to use sport as a means of promoting social inclusion and leading the fight against poor health.

"We are happy to invest in such programmes because sport and healthy living are crucial to improving people's lives."

Peter Nicholson, head of Newham's Youth Offending Team (YOT), claims that when it comes to keeping young people on the straight and narrow, the council's attention to detail is paying off.

He said: "The effort being made in Newham to divert people away from crime and anti-social behaviour is comprehensive and unique.

"We are tracking the results with a new database and, for the first time, we have clear, hard evidence that it is working."

The Newham YOT is a multi-agency partnership which sees the police, education and social services working with the council and youth support panels.

Newham currently spends £5m on leisure facilities and sport, £1m of which comes from the Government's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.