42 children a day in trouble with the law

MORE than 42 children and youths in Greater Manchester are being convicted or cautioned for crimes every day.

The rate at which youngsters — are getting into trouble with the law has risen by almost a third in four years, statistics published by the Liberal Democrat revealed.

They showed a 30 per cent increase in 10 to 18-year-olds getting a caution or conviction, from 12,095 in 2002 to 15,688 in 2006 — above the national rise of 27 per cent.

By contrast, adults with cautions or convictions in Greater Manchester increased by a more modest 16 per cent over the same period.

The Government claims that re-offending by juveniles is falling and the figures reflect the results of a policy to increase “offences brought to justice”, particularly youth offences which might previously have been dealt with informally and did not show in criminal records.

But the Lib-Dems — which obtained the figures from the Institute for Public Policy Research thinktank — said they showed the need for a new approach to youth crime, under which offenders would be dealt with informally to try to change the behaviour of children before they got a criminal record, to steer them away from a life of crime.

Lib-Dem Home Affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said young people who committed minor criminal offences or got involved in anti-social behaviour should not face prosecution in the courts.

Under the party’s strategy, A Life Away From Crime, children who admit their guilt would be sent before community justice panels of local people to apologise, with punishment in the form of a “positive behaviour order” and work such as cleaning up graffiti.

The proposals also include the formation of a new Youth Volunteer Force to carry out community projects and tougher penalties for shops which sell alcohol to children.

Mr Huhne said: “It is time for a new approach to youth justice which both prevents crime and confronts young people with their actions if they do break the law.”