Services that divert young people away from the justice system given financial boost

The money, part of a larger £5m pot that includes provision for adults, was announced by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley and Justice Secretary Ken Clarke with the aim of establishing a national liaison and diversion service by 2014.

The scheme supports the early assessment of young people on first contact with the police, by providing suitably-trained staff who are able to undertake a rapid assessment of health needs.

Staff work in partnership with youth offending teams and police to inform decision-making across the youth justice pathway.

Frances Done, chair of the Youth Justice Board (YJB), said: "I am delighted that £2m is being invested by the government to divert young people with complex needs from the youth justice system.

"Young people in the criminal justice system are three times more likely to have mental health needs than the general population, and the Point of Arrest Diversion scheme offers support at the earliest possible opportunity.

"This scheme learns from the success of the YJB-developed Triage programme and the youth justice liaison and diversion schemes, which aim for early and rapid assessment of young people by bringing the expertise of health professionals and youth offending teams into police stations.

"It is vital that practitioners are able to take action while a difference can still be made."

The scheme will focus solely on England although it is not yet clear what proportion of the country will be covered.