1000s of UK kids arrested for violent offences

New figures show thousands of children aged as young as 10 have been arrested for violent offences across England and Wales over the past two years.

According to statistics obtained by the Daily Mirror through freedom of information requests, British police have detained 8,511 children aged between 10 and 12 over violent attacks, including sex offences, rape, robbery, firearms offences and manslaughter, since 2011 in England and Wales.

The number is likely to be higher because Gwent Police and West Midlands Police failed to cooperate with the investigation.

Nearly a quarter of the arrests were reported to be made over allegations of violent attacks.

It was also found that half of the investigations into sex offences, involving child suspects, were discontinued.

“It is a sad indictment on society that young children are becoming involved in serious crimes of this nature. Parents must take a lead but the government must also play its part,” said British Crime Prevention Minister Norman Baker.

The figures come in the wake of a report by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England last month, revealing that children as young as 11 are being sexually assaulted by other youngsters as part of gang violence in Britain.