THE Shadow Home Secretary visited one of Hampshire's most deprived estates yesterday to look at ways to tackle youth crime.

Oliver Letwin had a tour of the Rowner estate in Gosport to see the challenges police face.

He chose to visit the troubled estate to show crime is not just an inner-city problem.

Gosport Police say at least 60 per cent of burglaries, thefts and shop-lifting offences are drug-related.

Led by Supt Peter Baldry of Gosport Police and senior officers, Mr Letwin was shown a display of recovered property from household burglaries.

The haul of stolen goods was unearthed after detectives ran a second-hand shop to trap burglars and thieves trying to sell on stolen property.

The operation - codenamed Pandolph - resulted in 31 arrests.

Now Mr Letwin is calling for more bobbies on the streets and helping young people off the "conveyer belt of crime."

"If we target young criminals and get them off any drug habits we can make a huge impact on reducing crime."

He added: "We want young people on heroin and cocaine to be faced with a choice - treatment or off to court."

His proposals include compulsory treatment for young heroin and cocaine addicts and longer sentences for persistent young offenders.