Reporter Monique Cleaver looks at the trend for young offending and why children aged 10 are turning to crime.


Children as young as 10 are committing violent offences and theft, new figures show.

Between 2006 and 2007, 26 10-year-olds in Northamptonshire were caught committing acts like criminal damage and burglary.

Children just a year or two older are also turning to crime, with 60 12-year-olds committing violence against a person in 12 months.

Worryingly, violence is common among all age groups and was one of the biggest crime types with 793 offences recorded.

And in line with a national increase, the number of girls committing offences is on the rise, with a third responsible for youth crime in Northamptonshire.

But it is not all bad news – the figures released from the Youth Justice Board show the number of crimes committed by children and teenagers fell by 174 to 3,359 in 2006/2007.

Dave Palmer, from Kettering Youth Offending Team, said many 10-year-olds are dealt with through police warnings, rather than the court system.

He said: "We don't come across many 10-year-olds but we do have some younger age groups such as 11 or 12-year-olds who are entering the court system.

"There's no evidence to suggest that younger people are committing more crimes than they did previously.

"Children may commit an act like criminal damage because they have suffered a trauma or are copying an older person's behaviour.

"They might not have the right kind of parental boundaries."

Mr Palmer said they target children whose older brothers, sisters or parents have been involved in crime to try to stop a pattern emerging.

He said: "We also have a parenting co-ordinator who organises meetings between parents who may have been crying out for help for a long time.
We are conscious that children are children and they're still developing.

"Mistakes you make as a child can be learned from more quickly."

Mr Palmer said the changing expectations for girls and the issue of independence was showing itself in the number of crimes committed by young girls.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: "Having young people in the criminal justice system at the age of 10 is highly unusual.

"While young children may be investigated for offences, this does not mean it is proven that he or she committed the crime.

"Most children of pre-teen age come to our attention because of petty thefts and can be dealt with in many ways, often through an informal action, a reprimand or formal warning."


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