More than 500 youngsters are being helped by police and local groups who want them to break free from gangs and violence.

DECLAN HARTE

More than 500 youngsters are being helped by police and local groups who want them to break free from gangs and violence.

They will be urged to take part in projects tackling issues such as anger management, as well as sport, music, drama and other activities.

The move, announced yesterday by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, forms part of a wider anti-gang drive which led to 6000 people being stopped and searched in March alone.

More than 500 weapons were also seized, and alcohol was confiscated from more than 870 under-age drinkers.

The mixture of "hard-edged" enforcement, programmes to change attitudes, and activities to divert youngsters from gang culture is claimed to be already paying dividends.

Mr MacAskill yesterday visited Operation Reclaim in Springburn, Glasgow, which will receive more than £15,000 to work intensively over a six-month period with 120 known gang members. Earlier this year he announced a £200,000 fund to which police and local bodies could make bids for schemes to tackle gangs and youth disorder.

Mr MacAskill said: "We need to get them (youths) out of the cycle of cheap drink and get them burning up their energy playing football. The next step is to get them into jobs. The hands they have used to pummel each other can be used to build the infrastructure we need in this city for the Commonwealth Games."

Operation Reclaim was set up in 2004 to provide a safe environment for sports after many of the city's large playing fields were deemed to be too dangerous by police.