A NEW idea being tried out in Bolton, in which young offenders are put face to face with their victims, might work in some cases.

But there must be careful monitoring to ensure that it does not become a commonly-used soft option to replace a punishment which fits the crime.

Project organisers are adamant that the emotionally difficult process of facing up to the consequences of their actions is anything but a soft option for some young offenders.

But many people will not see it that way, bearing in mind that teenage criminals can agree to take part as "an alternative" to punishments such as community service.

Would it not be better if the face to face meeting was in addition to the usual range of punishments, which are already regarded as too soft by many people?

For a youngster with a conscience, confrontation with a victim could provide a sharp reminder of the consequences where, for instance, a young vandal had lobbed a brick in a moment of madness. We would not dispute that.

Several times in the recent past the BEN has reported on the hardships suffered by local families -- those, for example, with a handicapped child to transport around -- when some thief has stolen their car. Showing a thief the problems he or she has caused might be a good thing.

But the face to face option covers offences ranging from petty theft to assault. The latter usually means someone has been physically and emotionally hurt.

What about the growing number of cases where some teenage burglar attacks an old lady in her own home? The only place, we are sure, that the victim would want to come face to face with the thug is through the steel bars of a prison cell.

And she would probably have nightmares at the prospect of that.

Take for instance, last weekend's shocking story of the young man who dashed to help a pensioner whose house was being burgled in Ainsworth.

As the intruders ran off, leaving the man badly wounded -- and, for all they knew, bleeding to death -- they were reported to be laughing.

A fat lot of good it would do to haul the attackers back to look at the stitched up wounds of their victim. Though it might do them some good to catch a glimpse of his scarred face as they are carted off to a 20-year jail sentence.