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Two children accused of committing rape in Greater Manchester last year, among 1000 child crime suspects | Two children accused of committing rape in Greater Manchester last year, among 1000 child crime suspects |
(35 minutes later) | |
Nearly 1000 children were suspected of committing crimes in Greater Manchester last year, including two children as young as seven and eight who were accused of committing rape. | Nearly 1000 children were suspected of committing crimes in Greater Manchester last year, including two children as young as seven and eight who were accused of committing rape. |
One seven-year-old boy was suspected of raping a girl under 13, while an eight-year-old was suspected of raping a girl under 16, Manchester. | One seven-year-old boy was suspected of raping a girl under 13, while an eight-year-old was suspected of raping a girl under 16, Manchester. |
Figures released by Greater Manchester Police following a Freedom of Information request by Manchester Evening News also revealed a boy aged 6 was suspected of possessing cannabis, and a nine-year-old girl was accused of carrying a sharp object in school. | Figures released by Greater Manchester Police following a Freedom of Information request by Manchester Evening News also revealed a boy aged 6 was suspected of possessing cannabis, and a nine-year-old girl was accused of carrying a sharp object in school. |
As many as 17 children were arson suspects – three of which were recorded as posing a threat to life - while ten allegedly stole bikes. | As many as 17 children were arson suspects – three of which were recorded as posing a threat to life - while ten allegedly stole bikes. |
A worrying 119 children were accused of hate crimes, 88 of which had a racial or religious aspect to it. | A worrying 119 children were accused of hate crimes, 88 of which had a racial or religious aspect to it. |
As children under-10 are not deemed criminally responsible in the UK, the suspects could not be prosecuted, and the police argue crimes committed by children are often complex to tackle. | As children under-10 are not deemed criminally responsible in the UK, the suspects could not be prosecuted, and the police argue crimes committed by children are often complex to tackle. |
Detective Superintendent Jon Chadwick told the newspaper that instead, referral procedures are used to minimise a child’s involvement in criminal activity, to help them “understand the difference between right and wrong” and to safeguard the child, where appropriate. | Detective Superintendent Jon Chadwick told the newspaper that instead, referral procedures are used to minimise a child’s involvement in criminal activity, to help them “understand the difference between right and wrong” and to safeguard the child, where appropriate. |
“A child does not just go out and commit a crime; there are a whole host of influences that can lead to an incident occurring,” he said. | “A child does not just go out and commit a crime; there are a whole host of influences that can lead to an incident occurring,” he said. |
David Spencer, research director of the Centre for Crime Prevention, told Manchester Evening News: “In cases when children of this age are committing such offences, they have often been the victims of criminal behaviour, neglect, or worse in their home lives.” | David Spencer, research director of the Centre for Crime Prevention, told Manchester Evening News: “In cases when children of this age are committing such offences, they have often been the victims of criminal behaviour, neglect, or worse in their home lives.” |
The findings come after the UK’s biggest police forces reported that transphobic hate crimes soared in 2014. | The findings come after the UK’s biggest police forces reported that transphobic hate crimes soared in 2014. |
The Metropolitan Police saw offences against transgender people soar by 44 per cent in 2014 with 95 crimes recorded, up from 66 last year and 59 in 2012. | The Metropolitan Police saw offences against transgender people soar by 44 per cent in 2014 with 95 crimes recorded, up from 66 last year and 59 in 2012. |
Greater Manchester, South Wales, Nottinghamshire, Durham, Kent, Norfolk, West Mercia Police, Northumbria and Gloucestershire police forces also saw transphobic hate crimes rise between January and November compared to last year. | Greater Manchester, South Wales, Nottinghamshire, Durham, Kent, Norfolk, West Mercia Police, Northumbria and Gloucestershire police forces also saw transphobic hate crimes rise between January and November compared to last year. |