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| Thousands of crimes by under-10s | Thousands of crimes by under-10s |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Almost 3,000 crimes were committed last year where the suspect was too young to be prosecuted, the BBC has learned. | Almost 3,000 crimes were committed last year where the suspect was too young to be prosecuted, the BBC has learned. |
| Figures show there were about 1,300 incidents of criminal damage and arson, and more than 60 sex offences committed by under-10s in England and Wales. | Figures show there were about 1,300 incidents of criminal damage and arson, and more than 60 sex offences committed by under-10s in England and Wales. |
| If a child is nine or under, he or she can not be charged with an offence in England and Wales, although the crime will be recorded by the police. | If a child is nine or under, he or she can not be charged with an offence in England and Wales, although the crime will be recorded by the police. |
| The figures are based on data from 32 of the 43 forces in England and Wales. | The figures are based on data from 32 of the 43 forces in England and Wales. |
| Harassment | Harassment |
| Of the 2,840 crimes where the suspect was under 10, about half were cases of arson or criminal damage. | Of the 2,840 crimes where the suspect was under 10, about half were cases of arson or criminal damage. |
| If you go along to any estate and see the age of kids marauding around like a pack of wolves, you'd see that reducing the age of criminal responsibility to eight or nine would be vital Lawrence Lee,solicitor class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=7215&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| There were also 66 sexual offences, including a number of sexual assaults on children under 13. | There were also 66 sexual offences, including a number of sexual assaults on children under 13. |
| The figures, obtained by BBC Radio Five Live through requests under the Freedom of Information Act, also show children too young to face charges were suspected of harassment, wounding and burglary. | The figures, obtained by BBC Radio Five Live through requests under the Freedom of Information Act, also show children too young to face charges were suspected of harassment, wounding and burglary. |
| As a proportion of total crime the numbers are small. | As a proportion of total crime the numbers are small. |
| Home Office figures show there were 5.5 million incidents reported to the police during the same period. | Home Office figures show there were 5.5 million incidents reported to the police during the same period. |
| Lawrence Lee, who was solicitor for Jon Venables, one of two 10-year-olds who murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, said lowering the age would send an important message to child offenders. | Lawrence Lee, who was solicitor for Jon Venables, one of two 10-year-olds who murdered two-year-old James Bulger in 1993, said lowering the age would send an important message to child offenders. |
| He added: "As a defence lawyer I would say no, it wouldn't be a good thing. | He added: "As a defence lawyer I would say no, it wouldn't be a good thing. |
| "But if I wear my citizen's hat, I would say if you go along to any estate and see the age of kids marauding around like a pack of wolves, you'd see that reducing the age of criminal responsibility to eight or nine would be vital." | "But if I wear my citizen's hat, I would say if you go along to any estate and see the age of kids marauding around like a pack of wolves, you'd see that reducing the age of criminal responsibility to eight or nine would be vital." |
| However, Bob Reitemeier of the Children's Society told the BBC his charity wanted the minimum age of criminal responsibility raised to 14. | However, Bob Reitemeier of the Children's Society told the BBC his charity wanted the minimum age of criminal responsibility raised to 14. |
| He added: "I mean if you look at how children are treated by government and legislation you have to be 18 to be able to vote, 16 to have sex and yet 10 to be held accountable for committing a crime." | He added: "I mean if you look at how children are treated by government and legislation you have to be 18 to be able to vote, 16 to have sex and yet 10 to be held accountable for committing a crime." |