The Youth Bail Engagement Program commenced in July last year and is designed to reduce the recidivism of youth offenders regarding damages and assaults around Ararat.

When a youth is charged they are bailed with conditions, one being a curfew and the other that they must present to police when requested at their home address.

They are targeted by police and if they are not at home when police call, they are charged with breaching bail.

Since the program was introduced in Ararat, 19 youths have been involved, 15 males and four females.

Acting Senior Sergeant Rob Weppner said of those 19 youths, the youngest was 11 while the oldest was 18.

Out of the 19, four have been remanded in custody for breaching conditions of their bail.

Act Sen Sgt Weppner said this can mean that if they are caught on a Friday they can spend three nights in the cells before a court appearance on a Monday.

Of these 19 youths, six have been on the program more than once and out of the six, four have been on it three to four times.

"We are actively enforcing the program on a core group, a lot of them are associated with one another," Act Sen Sgt Weppner said.

"Once they are put on bail the condition is that they are not allowed to associate with their peers