THE High Sheriff of Wiltshire took time out from his busy schedule to get to know the folk at Swindon's Youth Offending Team.

Sir Christopher Benson, who was appointed to the honorary role in April, travelled out to the team's headquarters at The Limes in Upper Stratton yesterday.

He read through their highly-praised Youth Justice Plan for 2002-5 and met members of the 20-strong team, which was one of the first of its kind in the country to be set up in 1999.

He praised the unit for its work in establishing strong joint-working between Swin-on Council, Swindon Police, Swindon Primary Care Trust and the Wiltshire Probation Service.

The agencies work together to combat youth crime by addressing the reasons young people aged 10-18 commit crimes and working with victims of crime to help offenders understand the implications of their actions.

Sir Benson said it was part of his brief as High Sheriff to support in whichever way he could the law and order of the land.

He explained: "I see youth and education as intrinsically linked to law and order and this organisation falls right into my remit, so I wanted to know a bit more about them.

"When I came into office I wrote 500 or so letters to places around the county saying that if I can serve them in any way during my year then I would be happy to turn up.

"The Youth Offending Team is just one that has responded, together with schools, police stations and fire stations."

He said the Youth Justice Plan the team has put together to combat youth crime was "one of the best business plans I've seen".

"I haven't read through it all yet, but I've read most of it and it's fascinating stuff," he said.

"I was very surprised, for instance, how relatively low crime is in Swindon compared to London, where I serve as a JP.

"I'm interested in how they approach these young people and help them not to re-offend and the success rate they achieve.

"I'm very impressed with what I've seen so far and if it is a model that is working well, I think it should be taken up around the country."

Karen McKeown, the manager of the YOT, said: "We're delighted that the High Sheriff has taken the time to visit us, particularly as it falls right within his remit.

"We feel we are doing a good job here and the statistics are showing there has been an impact on youth crime over the last year, which has been achieved from involving all our partners."