How do you tackle the problem of young people falling into a life of crime? One of the approaches being adopted across the UK has been more awareness of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).

In Wales, more than 5,000 front-line officers and police staff have been trained in responding to crimes involving children to enable them to recognise whether they may be experiencing ACEs.

The programme, which has been backed by more than £6.5m of Home Office funding, is being used as a pilot which could, potentially, be repeated in other parts of the country.

Work is being carried out by different agencies, including the police, health and education authorities to see how best to mitigate the effects of ACEs.

"We need to start intervening at an earlier stage before things reach crisis point," said Supt Chris Truscott, of South Wales Police.

"This isn't about turning police officers into social workers, but most problems start in local communities and we need to look at an incident through an ACE lens.

"If there is no food in the cupboards or kids are not dressed, we can see that things are not quite right in a family.

"They may need help and support which we can connect them to."

Police are meeting problems head on at an estate in Maesteg, near Bridgend, which has had problems with anti-social behaviour.

To read more of Sian Lloyd's article, please click here.