VULNERABLE youngsters could benefit from a scheme designed to prevent them from becoming a victim or suspect of crime.

The Keeping Safe project, based in Darlington, is designed to help young people with Asperger syndrome - a form of autism which affects social skills - learn about the risks of crime.

Youngsters with Asperger syndrome are statistically more likely to become a victim or suspect of a crime. It is thought this is because they do not have the social skills to deal with threatening situations.

It is being run at Beaumont Hill School, in Darlington's Education Village and seven other schools in the country, following a successful pilot programme at eight UK schools last year.

The project has been developed by The National Autistic Society (NAS) and The Co-operative Bank.

It is the first of its kind to specifically address the needs of young people with Asperger syndrome and the issues they face with crime and the criminal justice system.

Alan Bicknell, NAS head of support programmes, said: "Young people with Asperger syndrome often don't have the skills we rely on to deal with threatening situations. This means they are particularly vulnerable and they need help to learn how to recognise dangerous situations and keep themselves safe."

Dame Dela Smith, executive director of the Education Village, said: "Keeping Safe is a welcome addition to our curriculum. Topics such as avoiding victimisation and reporting crime will teach our pupils with Asperger syndrome the valuable social awareness that they need in order to protect themselves in the community."