Kids aged 13 charged with dealing drugs

TWO 13-year-old children were charged with drug dealing in the Capital while soaring numbers of youngsters have been arrested for drug possession, new figures revealed today.

The pair were the youngest arrested for supplying drugs in the city, while a 15-year-old and two 16-year-olds were also charged with the same offence.

The teenager dealers were caught last year selling drugs including heroin, cannabis and valium, although the figures do not reveal which youngster dealt each substance.

Meanwhile, the number of under-18s caught in possession of drugs has seen a huge rise in recent years, rising to 50 last year compared with only nine in 2007.

Police chiefs said they would continue to pursue anyone involved in the illegal drug trade "regardless of their age".

But children's charities today insisted it was "important that we don't label these young people as criminals" and instead address why they had become involved in drugs. The figures, released to the Evening News under freedom of information laws, showed that five 13-year-olds and eleven 14-year-olds were among those caught in possession of drugs in the Capital last year. The substances included cannabis, valium and diazepam.

Gavin Brown, Lothians Tory MSP, said: "There is a real concern here that these youngsters may fall into a life of drug crime, and action is required to prevent this from becoming the case."

Children caught with drugs are generally cautioned and details of the incident are sent to the Children's Reporter. Depending on the circumstances, a report may be sent to social services.

Kate Higgins, policy manager for the charity Children 1st, said: "By addressing the cause and not the individual crime, the chances of them re-offending may decrease."

The number of youngsters charged with dealing drugs in the city fell last year to five cases, compared with seven for 2008.

A police spokesman said: "The force treats the possession and supply of drugs extremely seriously, and we will take robust action against anyone who is caught with drugs, regardless of their age.

"We are committed towards educating young people to the dangers of substance misuse, through educational inputs at schools, and through initiatives such as our annual Choices for Life event.