MORE than £1m is to be spent on combating youth disorder, vandalism and increasing public safety.

Bexley Council says anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and graffiti are now the biggest problem in the borough.

It has unveiled budget plans to put £500,000 into various projects with another £600,000 coming from the Government and other funds.

A new government programme, Connexions, comes into effect from April this year and is designed to pull together services for 13 to 19-year-olds.

One key aspect will be personal advisors available for all 18,000 youngsters in the borough.

For about 500 youngsters who may already be involved in crime and who have a number of problems which need to be dealt with, this will mean one-to-one intensive support.

Another 3,000 to 4,000 young people who may be at risk of dropping out of the system will get in-depth help and the remaining 13,000 to 14,000 will get information, advice and a review of their careers, training and other opportunities. All the Government's money will go into these areas.

The council, in discussion with the police, is putting £250,000 into the setting up a series of community safety action zones to tackle a variety of criminal problems including youth disorder.

And Bexleyheath police are spending £250,000 on adaptations to Belvedere police station so it can be used as a base for a variety of groups dealing with young people and youth crime.

Bexley Council will also be working with other organisations to establish new and varied activities for young people.

It will also be looking at its own youth centres to see how they can offer activities young people want.

In total 25 organisations will be involved in the new initiatives, which will also include support and help for parents.

In addition there are plans to combat and clean up graffiti, set up a task force to deal with abandoned cars, improve street lighting, increase CCTV coverage and more park security.