A WARRINGTON boot camp, where inmates are put through a 16-hour training programme each day, has been praised for its success at reducing repeat offending.

Thorn Cross Young Offenders' Institute, in Appleton Thorn, has reduced its re-offending rate by 10 per cent since introducing the high-intensity training regime in July, 1996.

The programme includes 60 inmates, aged between 18 and 21, who volunteer for the regime and go through a selection process which includes interviews with a psychologist.

Each day begins at 6am and sees the inmates take part in physical exercise, skills training and lessons to tackle their offending.

In the last five weeks they are placed in full-time education, or go out on work placements and many end up in permanent employment.

The regime's success earned praise in an evaluation carried out by researchers and psychologists from Cambridge University's Institute of Criminology.

Colin Midwinter, the governor in charge of residents, runs the programme.

He said: "We get some lads coming here who can't communicate with anybody. By the time they're halfway through the programme they can stand in front of a group and give a presentation."

Paul Boateng, Prisons and Probation Minister, said: "We have a duty to provide constructive regimes for all our young offenders, which will enable them to address their offending behaviour and lead law-abiding lives when they leave."

Although the cost of putting inmates through the rigorous programme is £5,000 more than for offenders in other institutions, the Government is considering extending the regime to two other prisons by 2003.

Discussions are under way as to where these two additional programmes will be located.

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