juvenile offenders needs to be seriously considered by Government.

Anyone who read the story in yesterday's newspaper of how a youth was being committed to an approved society for the tenth time should acknowledge that the current system is not working.

Few would agree with the idea that minors should be put in prison; it is a legal principle that people under the age of 18 are not fully responsible for their actions and that imprisoning them with adults could do them more harm than good.

While the approved societies may help some teenagers, it is clear they have no influence on others. Some teens, while not completely incorrigible, require a different form of treatment than that provided by approved societies.

Mr. Greaves' proposal for juveniles who are repeat offenders to receive mandatory three-year sentences with military and trades training in a special facility are worth considering.

There are also, as Mr. Greaves has said, a need for "proper'' remand facilities. While locking up children may be unpalatable to some, the number of children who go missing from approved societies means more secure facilities are needed.

"Boot camps'' have had some success in other countries, and programmes such as Outward Bound and the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme can also help to put teenagers back on the right track.

Counselling too, along the lines of what is provided by the Family Resource Network, should be included in any programme. Very often, a "problem child'' has problems in the home and within the family that need to be explored and understood before a child can lead a normal life.

Three-year sentences may not be the answer in all cases. Sometimes a "short, sharp shock'' will be more effective.

Failure to take a hard look at the whole question of juvenile crime and punishment will mean, as Mr. Greaves said, that young offenders will simply "transition'' from approved societies into the prison system. Surely, there must be a better way.