The East Preston centre will be based in an existing police and community office in Langcliffe Road, Brookfield, from next Monday.

Peer panels, which are likened to the "peer courts" system in America, are the latest tool enlisted by crime agencies in the county to seek reparation for victims of low level crime.

It will see youngsters aged 10 to 17 stand before similar aged people and their victims to agree a way to make up for committing low-level anti-social behaviour.

Supporters hope young people will respond more positively to their peers than to traditional authority.

Simon Evans of crime reduction charity Nacro said volunteers and staff would work alongside police officers already based at the Brookfield centre.

He continued: "We are looking to tackle anti-social behaviour through the peer panels and the resulting acceptable behaviour contract.

"Brookfield was chosen because it is unfortunately a high crime area and we think the community deserves some targeting of resources.

"The estate is one of the three highest crime areas in Preston, along with Ribbleton. They fall just behind the city centre, which is why we have based our second restorative justice centre in the heart of the city in Winckley Square."

The first centre, which will be opened by Chief Constable of Lancashire Steve Finnigan, will be staffed by a mix of professionals and volunteers – mostly young peers from schools across the city who "graduated" in September at a launch at police headquarters in Hutton.

The second, in Winckley Square, is expected to be completed in the next two weeks. The scheme has already received several referrals.

A youngster can be suggested for the process after receiving two police referrals – a letter used to make parents aware of bad behaviour.

On the third occasion an officer visits the home and can refer the youth to a restorative peer panel, if he or she agrees to volunteer.

Reparation can include cleaning graffiti and repairing vandalism.