Kent crime commissioner Matthew Scott has revealed he is exploring the options for setting up a free school for troubled youngsters.

He has asked the charity New Schools Network to examine the viability of running a free school dedicated to helping children who have either got into trouble with the police or are considered likely to.

NSN is a charity that has helped develop the new generation of free schools pioneered by the former education secretary Michael Gove.

The idea of crime commissioners setting up free schools was floated by Theresa May when Home Secretary ahead of the recent May election.

“I think any opportunity we have to help young people stay away from a life of crime and prevent them getting caught up in the justice system needs to be explored" - Matthew Scott

She said she wanted an expanded role for crime commissioners beyond what some regard as their existing relatively modest powers.

Mr Scott, a Conservative, said: “I think any opportunity we have to help young people stay away from a life of crime and prevent them getting caught up in the justice system needs to be explored.”

“This is an idea put forward by the then Home Secretary and I think it is an important way crime commissioners can work with local authorities and other organisations in the criminal justice system to try and help young people who are at the heart of this proposal.”

He stressed there was no concrete plan and no one area of the county it could be.

“I met with the New Schools Network and we talked about some of the issues we face and we will get together in the near future to talk about potential opportunities there might be.

"All we are doing is taking early indications about whether or not we can proceed.”