Police catch four-year-olds over assault and fireraising

CHILDREN as young as four have been caught by police committing crime in the Lothians, it emerged today.

New figures reveal three four-year-olds were among 17 youngsters under the age of seven who were responsible for crimes including vandalism, minor assault and fireraising.

The youngsters were all under the age of criminal responsibility, which is eight years old in Scotland, and could not be charged with any offences.

In the majority of the cases, the children were taken to their parents and given a warning over their behaviour but no further action was taken. The figures, released under freedom of information laws, were today branded "very worrying".

Police chiefs said they work closely with social workers to try to address criminal behaviour amongst the very young.

The juvenile offenders were responsible for 21 offences, which as well as assaults, vandalism and setting fires, included malicious mischief and damaging cars.

Independent Lothians MSP Margo McDonald said: "I would want to know where these children's parents were, who was supervising them if the parents weren't, and what was the age of any children they were playing with when these offences took place. Charges such as fireraising are very serious. It may need case conferences between police, social workers and the parents to find out what's going on. And we have to look at how these children can be socialised as this is antisocial behaviour before they can even spell the word."

Tory justice spokesman Bill Aitken described it as a "very worrying trend".

He said: "It reflects very badly on the parents of the children involved. There are clearly concerns that a significant number of parents are obviously failing to control their children even at such a young age. Goodness knows what they will be like when they turn 15."

Children as young as eight in Edinburgh are already made to sign antisocial behaviour contracts promising they will behave. Last year, it was reported that police and council chiefs had dished out more than one of the "mini-Asbos" every week since a crackdown was launched. Those breaking the contracts, known as ABCs, risk being taken to court or even having their families evicted from council homes.

A police spokesman said: "The police have a responsibility to investigate all crimes, and when a crime is committed by a child under the age of criminal responsibility we have a responsibility ourselves to make sure that the appropriate action is taken.

"We would liaise closely with council social work departments in order to address any underlying issues regarding the child's behaviour, and to ensure that they receive the attention appropriate to the circumstances."