A new deal for young offenders -- including special teams to target problem youngsters -- was yesterday called for by Acting Shadow Social Services Minister Cole Simons.

And he challenged Government to come up with the cash for a new approach to young criminals in Government's second Budget, due to be unveiled later this month.

Opposition MP Cole Simons said he wanted to see a new-style Juvenile Justice Board to act as preventers of crime and to halt criminal spirals among the young.

And he added that Juvenile Recovery Teams -- along the lines of a UK model and involving Police, social and probation workers as well as psychiatric specialists -- should be set up.

He said: "Our new Bermuda claims to be so concerned about our juvenile offenders.

"If they are, then they must be prepared to commit more resources to a proper juvenile offenders programme.'' And he added: "If this is not included, again this Government will have dropped the ball on another social issue. It will be another broken covenant with the people of Bermuda.'' Mr. Simons said: "The vision of this Juvenile Offenders Board is to prevent offending by children and young people so they can live more fulfilling lives.

"This board will also help strengthen families and will help communities to feel safer and more harmonious.'' And he added that Recovery Teams -- to be accountable to the new Board -- would work to deliver "new and coordinated juvenile services''. Mr. Simons weighed in after Social Services Minister Nelson Bascome last week said he would not order the imprisonment of young offenders with adult criminals -- particularly because they risked coming out worse than when they went in.

And Mr. Bascome added he wanted to see a "purpose-built'' unit for teenagers who fall foul of the law -- and that the problem would be addressed in the new Children's Act and associated regulations.

Mr. Bascome was speaking after The Royal Gazette revealed that Observatory Cottage in Devonshire -- an "approved society'' home for youngsters aged 15 and under -- was full.

The problem came to light when Juvenile Court Magistrate Carlisle Greaves was considering a sentence for a juvenile for stealing a cycle and riding dangerously during a Police chase.

Mr. Simons said what was needed was a "master plan'' for teen criminals -- not one-off "fixes'' in crisis situations.

He added that he had been told special boards to deal with youth crime had been used in the past.

But he insisted: "What I am proposing goes beyond the offenders -- it's both preventative and punitive.'' Mr. Simons added: "The approved societies are just one minute issue which needs to be addressed.

"It's not the overall strategy which we need to stop our children coming off the rails.'' And he said: "Bermuda can ill afford to lose any of our young people -- they shape our future.

"If we are going to address Bermuda's future social challenges, which include crime, we must help our youngsters become more productive today.''