Crimes by children aged under 10s from 2018 to 2023

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.034707

I note you seek access to the following information:

How many crimes have been committed by under 10-year-olds in your police force in the following years: 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023

Can you also please detail what the most common type of crime was committed by those under 10 years of age?

Clarification -
Are you requesting data where under 10s were suspected as having committed crimes, or are you interested in data where under 10s were proceeded against for a crime? Please note, under 10 data can be off a poorer quality / entered in error (mainly due to officer's not knowing the actual date of birth / age of a suspect) and so may require further review - which could result in the engagement of the cost exemption. You would be informed of this.”

Reply to Clarification -
“Could you send both please?”

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

CAVEATS
The notes tab of the enclosed spreadsheet should be read alongside the data to interpret the figures correctly.

It should be noted that any child under the age of 10 is below the age of criminal responsibility and therefore cannot commit a crime or be subjected to any criminal proceedings. Further information about the criminal age of responsibility has been published on the UK Government Website and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) website. I have provided links to this information below.

UK Government Website - Age of criminal responsibility

CPS Website - Youth crime

The figures provided in table one of the spreadsheet below reflects the information that has been recorded on the MPS Crime Report Investigation System (CRIS). The MPS is accordingly, legally required to provide this information to you. These are recording errors as, in accordance with the information provided above, the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is 10 years old. Children under 10 years of age cannot accordingly be arrested, charged or proceeded against in connection with a criminal offence.

DUTY TO ADVISE AND ASSIST
Under Section 16 of the Act, there is a duty to advise and assist those that have made, or intend to make, a request for information. In accordance with this duty, I can confirm that the MPS publishes information about various types of crime on its website. I have provided a link to this information below.

MPS Website: Stats and Data

It may also assist you to note that the MPS proactively publishes all disclosures made in response to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 on its Publication Scheme. I have provided a link to this section of the MPS website below.

MPS Website: Publication Scheme

The MPS Publication Scheme can be searched using keywords and may accordingly hold other information that is of interest to you.