Cabinet has approved a $4.5 million overhaul for a Devonshire centre for child offenders.

It involves sprucing up and extending the Prospect complex, and making it more secure.

And far more emphasis will be placed on treatment -- including programmes for children with drug problems.

The project was announced yesterday by Health and Social Services Minister Harry Soares.

"I am excited I've got this through the system so quickly. We are going full steam ahead,'' declared Mr. Soares.

The plan immediately won approval from chairman of the Coalition for the Protection of Children, Ms Sheelagh Cooper.

"I am extremely pleased. It is long overdue and I am glad Cabinet has seen the need to put resources in this direction because violent crime is rising more rapidly in the young population than the older one.'' She added: "I am very glad about the emphasis on treatment. Drug treatment is essential as these youngsters often have drug and alcohol problems.'' Earlier this year, Ms Cooper blasted a decision by then Social Services Minister Quinton Edness to lock up two 13-year-old boys at the Co-Ed Facility.

She said the boys needed treatment instead of imprisonment in a place designed for women and low risk prisoners.

But Mr. Edness defended his decision, claiming the Devonshire centre, off Palmetto Road, was not se cure enough or properly staffed to contain unruly youngsters.

Mr. Soares' announcement yesterday comes after he tabled in the House of Assembly a 1994 report by the Treatment of Offenders Board.

In it, the Board recommended that Nonsuch Training School on Paget Island be reopened to house youngsters under the Protection of Children Act, who are usually placed at the Co-Ed Facility.

Alternatively, the Board suggested juveniles be sent to Warwick Camp to be disciplined by Bermuda Regiment officers.

Mr. Soares, however, said Government had decided against following these recommendations -- and would revamp the Devonshire centre instead.

He explained the Nonsuch school, designed for 12- to 17-year-olds, was closed years ago for several reasons, including its isolation.

"Numbers there had dropped way down and there were no support services, such as those provided by psychologists, nearby.

"It was also felt that more young people needed to be assimilated in the community.

"If you take them out of the community too much, then they have greater difficulty reassimilating.

"Rather than go back to Nonsuch, we are going to extend and renovate the existing facility at Prospect.

"We think the planned construction of a new residential care facility for adolescents is the way to go to. It will be a secure residential care facility.

"Quite a few children need support, and should not just be incarcerated.'' Mr. Soares pointed out the Prospect centre would be near "support services'' and the proposed new school.

Under the scheme -- which still has to go before the Development Applications Board -- the three present buildings would be turned into one complex.

"We are going to renovate and consolidate the units there and make them more user friendly and more cost effective. Some of the units will be secure,'' said Mr. Soares. "Up to now we've had three non-purpose built buildings, which is far from ideal.'' Mr. Soares said there were currently 25 children at the centre. The numbers would increase once more bedrooms were built.

"We are looking at having about 30 members of staff as we try to work on rehabilitation.

"We are currently carrying out a design brief and staffing brief. I don't have a date for finishing this project.'' He continued: "It's very important that we do the best for youngsters at this stage.

"If we can't fix them here, then they will only graduate to the Westgate prison.

"We are losing lives all the time, and it's so important we get to these children quickly.''