Violent Crimes Committed By Children Under 10 Rises

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The number of violent crimes committed by children under 10 years old rose percent cent last year. The figure represents a record number of offences by children who cannot be prosecuted because of their age. voice online reports

Mick Neville, a youth leader and a retired Metropolitan Police detective chief inspector, told The Sun: “Older teenagers and gang leaders think nothing of using children to carry drugs or stolen goods, knowing a child under ten can’t be prosecuted.”

The figures obtained by a freedom of information request reveal that children under 10 were involved in more than 2,604 offences in 2017, rising 38 percent from 1,891 in 2016.

The offences include knife attacks, threats to kill, assault and robbery.

It is estimated that the total figure could, in fact, be higher as 17 of 43 police forces did not respond The Sun’s freedom of information requests.

The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is 10 years old. Children under the age of 10 cannot be arrested or charged with a crime.

Alternative action taken in response to the law-breaking by children below the age of criminal responsibility include curfews and child safety orders. Those who regularly break the law can be taken into care.

A spate of violent attacks took place in the capital over the Bank Holiday Weekend.

• On Saturday, 17-year-old Rhyhiem Ainsworth Barton was shot dead in Southwark, south London
• Sunday a 13-year-old boy was struck by shotgun pellets in Wealdstone, north-west London,
• 15-year-old boy was also attacked in the area,
• 43-year-old man was stabbed in Perivale, north-west London
• 22-year-old was shot in Lewisham;
• Bank holiday Monday, a 17-year-old boy was stabbed in Stratford, east London
• Another teenager believed to be 16 was stabbed in Palmer’s Green, north London and
• A man was shot in New Cross Gate.