Kids as young as three caught shoplifting
Published 24 Jul 2012 09:30
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TOTS as young as three have been caught for shoplifting and vandalism, Fife police have revealed.
The details, released under Freedom of Information, showed there were 698 crimes committed by children aged 12 and under in Fife in 2011/12.
Among them were an 11-year-old who raped another child, a knife-carrying 12-year-old and drunk and incapable kids aged 10 and 11.
The crime spree ranged from housebreaking and carrying offensive weapons, to sexual exposure and causing another child to participate in a sexual activity.
Of the total, 572 offences were committed by boys and 126 by girls. Vandalism was the most common crime, with 244 logged, followed by assaults (212) and theft (58).
Fife police stressed that in all cases, the figures referred to a count of charges in its Crimefile system and not necessarily individuals or incidents.
The 2011/12 total is the lowest in the last five years, with figures steadily falling since a high of 1496 in 2006/07.
Rosyth councillor Douglas Chapman, vice chair of Fife Council's education, social and communities committee, called for support for parents to help manage children's behaviour.
He said, "A lot of these issues are being dealt with in schools in Fife - if anybody brings a knife to school that will be treated very seriously by any headteacher.
"The regularity with which these things occur is very small indeed and schools deal with them very effectively. The children are involved in low-level crime but we don't want any children involved with the police at such an early stage.
"Hopefully we can see these figures fall further over the next five years, which is a reasonable figure to aim for."
Leading children's charity Barnardo's welcomed the reduction in the number of incidents.
Peter Nield, assistant director of children's services, added, "We all want to reduce levels of anti-social and criminal behaviour and Barnardo's Scotland feels that this reduction is partially due to a focus on early action.
"Scotland's unique Children's Hearing system has always concentrated on the needs of children and intervening early to tackle underlying causes is always the best way forward.
"Barnardo's Scotland operates a range of services in Fife and we look forward to continuing to work positively with Fife Council and their partners to continue to improve the lives and experiences of the children of Fife."
This article appeared in Dunfermline Press 19 Jul 12
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jollymolly
93 posts
Jul 24, 10:58
Report commentThe kids do it because they know they will get away with it. and there parents probably are putting them up to it. the police should look into the parents background.
Bring back the belt at school to discipline them and of course give them a good slap if they are stealing.
bring back the birch and detention centres, borstal etc, or even better look at the American laws
they would think twice about getting into trouble again.
softy softy Britain.
Recommend?
Yes 31
No 1
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BobTheBuilder
111 posts
Jul 25, 00:13
Report commentBring back the belt? Do you think that's a deterrent? The feckless parents of feckless children would turn up at schools f-ing and c-ing and threatening to punch the teacher's light out. No way that would work with today's Jeremy Kyle society.
Recommend? Yes 5
No 4
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redrobin
285 posts
Jul 25, 09:14
Report commentGot to say jolly molly u make a good point but so does Bob!......The parents of today's children are the offspring of their parents obviously however where did it go wrong?...well we could fill pages and pages of EXCUSES....my sons are ok...J.M. have you and the partidge sorry ostrich have little birds...I am not being fesci...I'll try funny instead, but by the same token serious...life is too short without humour.
It is far too easy in this country to abuse the law, because the law is an ass.and why cos the people we put in government and the moment they get there they forget why.
It don't matter who is in government, they are playing a game...2 moves forward...one move back....or is it the other way ?
Just one tweet this time cos I am depressed....blooming great tit pinched my bit of bread this morning....ok then one more tweet x
Recommend? Yes 10
No 2
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stormxxx
132 posts
Jul 26, 04:28
Report commentGet away!! kids aged 3 shoplifting? i don't think so. What's goin to happen to these so called 3 year old thugs? The stocks..5 years inside..hard labour? 10 solid days at play group!!! take their toys away? for goodness sake i cannot even believe such a thing was typed....my 2 both helped themselves to sweeties at one time around that age..i took them back of course..one shop owner laughed an said he could keep them..i said no he couldnt..other shop keeper grabbed a tiny little bag of crisps off me when i handed them back an i heard him say tons in his tiny little shallow head!!
Recommend? Yes 3
No 11
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ItsErnie
202 posts
Jul 26, 20:42
Report commentShoplifting sounds better than stealing.
Shoplifter sound better than thief.
The sad truth (don't believe it if you son't want to Stormxxx) is that these tiny thiefs are tomorrow's full-time thieves unless something is done.
So, for youngsters punish the parents - community service,fines and then jail sound right.
For older ones just lock the sods up.
Recommend? Yes 8
No 1
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redrobin
285 posts
Jul 27, 11:33
Report commentItsErnie..ur thewise one not the one with the glasses.I wonder what age the parents of the 3 /4 year olds are?....20,21 25....or 16? and the age of their parents..36,39.? personaly I pay enough tax to keep no gooders in jail..It starts in the home, high time we got back to respect for parents teachers police the law. THe big society Mr Cameron ?I wonder given the law breakers there are in government!..There I have said me peace (piece)...I have lived long as a wee birdie, longer than expected for my breed, but I am getting tired...tired of trying to live a decent life with a few crumbs.
Recommend? Yes 5
No 0
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