A pioneering Scottish project designed to stop young criminals from re-offending could be set to take off in Bermuda.

And details of how the scheme might be used in Bermuda will be revealed by Home Affairs and Public Safety Minister Maxwell Burgess today.

Andrew Whitehead -- who runs Airborne Initiative Scotland -- and Bermudian-born British Army Major General Glyn Gilbert, now retired, have been locked in talks this week with Government and the private sector with a view to modifying their scheme for Bermuda.

The two are expected to prepare a full report in around two months, with advice on whether the scheme could be used on the Island.

The scheme, The Airborne Initiative -- which aims to keep youngsters on the straight and narrow through a combination of teaamwork and individual projects -- is understood to have been successful in Scotland.

Mr. Burgess -- who visited the private charitable status company in Scotland to see its work first-hand -- said: "This is is the best opportunity to break the cycle of recidivism I have seen.

"I was able to see for myself that the concept works. It's built around the proposition that it is possible to change the habits of criminals by developing in them an understanding of society's values and by developing their sense of self-worth and their life skills.'' Mr. Burgess added: "Included in the training are components which make participants aware of the impact of their behaviour, their personal responsibilities, their options and the consequences of their decisions.'' But Mr. Burgess warned the scheme was not a soft option imposed instead of prison.

He said: "Many of the participants I spoke to in Scotland said it was harder than spending time in prison. I will never forget one of the offenders who said to me `I can lay around in prison and do nothing, but here I have to participate'.'' Mr. Burgess added he had attended the `graduation' of some of the young men who finished the scheme.