Deprived youngsters given head massages to make them 'calmer'

Thousands of youngsters in the most deprived parts of the country are also being given "detoxification" foot spas, Indian head massage and taught golf, boxing and fishing.

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The Positive Futures programme is designed to help children "de-stress", making it more likely they will resist the temptations of drink, drugs and offending.

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Activities, such as fishing throughout the night, are offered at times when they are most at risk of breaking the law.

But critics have questioned whether the project was providing the taxpayer with value for money.

The Home Office's own evaluation of the Positive Futures scheme admits it is "not possible to make direct connections between the impact" of activities such as sport and "crime or substance misuse".

Instead, it is now focussing increasingly on tackling "social inclusion", a report into its progress reveals.

This is despite its initial aim being to "have a positive influence on participants' drug use, physical activity and offending behaviour by widening horizons and access to lifestyle, educational and employment opportunities with a supportive and culturally familiar environment".

Blair Gibbs, Campaign Director of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "Taxpayers need to realise that the whole business of so-called diversionary activities for young criminals is an expensive, self-indulgent racket which has no record of success and only serves to reward bad behaviour.

"It is simply an excuse for failed academics to promote their pet theories about crime and be paid by taxpayers for the privilege. 

"It is about time that the enormous waste and the abysmal record of such schemes was exposed."

Home Office literature reveals the department is funding 120 projects across the country, with an average of almost £42,000 each.

Children are encouraged to play football during the evening, go fishing or take-up boxing to reduce aggression. All the activities are funded by the taxpayer.

Others are offering natural relaxation techniques.

At Halton, near Liverpool, youngsters are being offered reiki - a Japanese healing technique based on the idea that energy from a therapist can activate the body's ability to heal itself and banish stress.

Techniques also include detoxing foot spas. David Humphreys, a manager overseeing the Halton project, said boys had taken to a range of therapies, including electro-stimulation, a form of electrical acupuncture.

It is said to boost the immune system and act as a natural antidepressant.

An initial taster session attracted 50 teenagers including 38 boys, all of whom tried the therapies.

Mr Humphreys said: "These young people don't know they have pockets of stress in their bodies but they certainly know when they have had a head massage or reiki that something is a lot different.

"They said they felt freer and a lot more awake and more focused, and since then they have come back for more."

He claims it has been a huge success, adding: "Their parents love it because they are going home and crashing at 10 o'clock because their bodies are detoxed."

Another Positive Futures project in Blackburn is running 10-week cookery and healthy eating courses over the past year aimed specifically at boys at risk of getting into trouble.

The scheme's manager, Gordon Peake, said participants aged 15 to 17 had been arrested less often and for less serious offences.

Mr Peake said. "It is really funny to see 17-year-old, rufty-tufty lads icing fairy cakes. They take so much care it isn't true. They take them home to show their mums and you get these great big yobboes saying, 'Watch my hundreds and thousands'."

Positive Futures director Gary Stannett said: "We recognise that not all young people enjoy sport and we strive to offer a diverse range of activities to suit everyone.

"We are delighted to see that boys are comfortable expressing an interest in activities which are traditionally female-oriented."

But Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "Whilst we would always support practical measures to rehabilitate offenders and stopping young people falling into a life of crime, the Home Secretary should not neglect to get the basics right as well."