Called Clacton Plus, it targets help on teenagers picked up during local truancy sweeps and identified by schools or social services as being from problem families - with a member in custody, say, or with a history of drugs or abuse.

“Ten to 15 families are probably the nucleus of a lot of the difficulties in this area,” says zone director Bert Bertoloni, “partly because some have some very significant needs. The challenge is to get them to work with us.”

An education welfare officer based at the secondary school in the most deprived area visits the family and offers help to the young person and other siblings. If it is accepted, needs are assessed and other agencies are brought in to help. The scheme only started last September. “But already,” says Mr Bertoloni, “we’ve been able to turn around the life of a small number of individuals.” One truanting teenager has found purpose - and avoided mischief - on a work-based learning scheme. Another family has been transformed by support for the mother, boosting her self-confidence and giving her hints on managing her family’s behaviour.

“Out of the 14 families we’ve approached, only three have said they didn’t want to work with us,” says Mr Bertoloni.