UK NEWS

CHILDREN INCLUDED IN CRIME FIGURES

Jacqui Smith announced under-16s will be included in crime figures

Thursday May 15,2008

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Children under 16 are to be included in the Government's flagship crime figures for the first time, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has announced.

She is asking for views on how kids should be surveyed for the British Crime Survey, including which age groups should take part.

It could mean children under 10 - who legally cannot be held responsible for their actions - being asked if they have been victims.

The move is expected to provide a more accurate picture of true crime levels, and is also likely to see estimated crime figures go up.

Children's groups have campaigned for young people to be included in the British Crime Survey - which ministers say is the most accurate measure of crime - and argued that there was no good reason to exclude them from the survey.

Ms Smith said: "This will help us to understand better how crime affects young people and do even more to prevent it.

"I want to ensure that young people are offered as much protection from crime as possible, and receive support if they do become victims, whilst also tackling offending vigorously."

Ms Smith announced the British Crime Survey's expansion as new research showed young people are particularly vulnerable to street crime because of their tendency to carry valuable gadgets such as MP3 players, portable video games and top-of-the-range mobile handsets.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said: "Given the spate of teenage killings in recent months on the streets of our capital, this is a welcome move."