YOUTH projects which involved more than 100 teenagers in the Callington and Calstock parishes and helped to reduce crime last year are to be extended into 2009.
Callington police have secured in excess of £1,000 to continue its Kick Off football project on Friday nights, street dancing and canoeing sessions, and a special criminal project which aims to get youngsters involved in cleaning up areas which have been targeted with graffiti.
Neighbourhood beat sergeant for Callington, Brett Phillips, said the projects last year had been a great success and the football sessions in particular were attracting more than 40 youngsters each week.
This had gone some way to preventing incidents of petty crime and vandalism which police say are prevalent in areas where there is a lack of activities for young people.
Sgt Phillips said: 'Youth crime across Devon and Cornwall as a whole is down on last year and there is considerably less youth related disorder in Callington, Calstock and Gunnislake.
'We can attribute this to a number of factors, but the work to engage youngsters and divert them away from crime is definitely having an effect.'
Criminal damage crimes in Caradon from April to December 2008 were down by 105 on the same period last year.
Press officer at force headquarters, Baxter Provan, said it was anecdotal that most criminal damage offences were carried out by young people.
'It is great news that the figures have gone down and fewer people are being a victim of crime,' he said.
'Neighbourhood beat teams are working closely with other agencies to look at ways of reducing crime in their areas by offering facilities to young people to keep them entertained and occupied.
'We know that this works and the teams will continue to seek ways to reduce crime in this way.'
More than 100 young people from Callington and Saltash were presented with community awards for their involvement in a police-led scheme last night (Wednesday) at St Mellion Golf and Country Club.
The aim of the CATS scheme, which was started by police in Bude and taken up by other towns, is to promote, encourage, recognise and award positive community action and help prevent problems of anti-social behaviour.
There are five levels within the award scheme and these are based on the level of commitment, responsibility and participation time shown by the young volunteer.
Nominations were made for volunteering efforts in after-school and community-based projects and local organisations such as the Air Cadets, Callington Colts, St John Ambulance, Callington Youth Centre and sports clubs.
All the award winners received vouchers for sporting activities of their choice.
Sporting heroes Plymouth Raiders coach Gary Stronach, Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Romain Larrieu, ex Welsh rugby player Kevin Mosely, triathlete Lisa Picton and marathon runner and Iron Man competitor Bob Brown presented the young people with their awards.