City's worst young offenders commit 400 crimes in year

A TEENAGE schoolboy branded one of Edinburgh's worst young offenders has been caught committing an average of one crime a week, it was revealed today.

The 14-year-old from north Leith has racked up almost 60 charges in the last year, including two counts of assault, and fireraising, shoplifting, vandalism and driving offences.

He tops a new list of Edinburgh schoolchildren who have been responsible for almost 400 crimes between them since last March.

The new figures on young offending, obtained by the Evening News under freedom of information laws, were today branded "deeply worrying" by politicians.

The 14-year-old who tops the list is understood to have been excluded from school, and is part of a local gang.

Leith councillor Gordon Munro said: "It is fairly concerning that one youngster is causing so much trouble for local residents, and it is also a concern that the authorities seem to be powerless to prevent this from happening.

"I believe that if we can get youngsters like this engaged in the local community then they can be turned away from crime, and that is what we have to do."

The boy was one of ten teenagers aged between 13 and 15 responsible for 394 offences between March 2009 and last month. Offences ranged from shoplifting and vandalism to housebreaking and serious assaults.

Far younger children are also becoming involved in crime too – separate figures show youngsters aged 10 and under being charged with crimes including assault, possession of an offensive weapon and racial abuse.

The figures may be the tip of the iceberg, with experts estimating that each youngster may be responsible for up to ten times more crimes.

Lothians Conservative MSP Gavin Brown said: "There are two things that need to happen urgently on this.

"The first is that we must bring in much tougher penalties for multiple offenders, to try and get these youngsters off the streets. Secondly, we have to try to identify early on who the children at risk of becoming multiple offenders are, and find ways to educate them at an early stage to prevent them going on to a life of crime."

One boy of 15 was charged with assaulting a police officer – one of 32 crimes committed by the youngster.

Another boy aged 15 was charged with 43 offences, including housebreaking, car theft, assault, assault and robbery, assault with intent to rob and misuse of drugs.

The youngest offender in the top ten was just 13. Over the last year he carried out 33 crimes including assault and fireraising.

Edinburgh's Conservative group leader, Councillor Iain Whyte, who convenes the Lothian and Borders Police board, said: "It is disturbing to hear that children aged ten and under are committing such serious offences."

A police spokesman said: "We will continue to engage with those currently in the criminal justice system and work with them to prevent reoffending."