Cops say they quizzed a four-year-old over a SEX ATTACK as they reveal raft of child crimes
Shocking figures also reveal a three-year-old was held responsible for a physical assault
COPS have said they quizzed a four-year-old over a SEX ATTACK as a raft of child crimes are revealed.
The shocking information revealed by Cumbria Police also shows a three-year-old was also recorded as responsible for a physical assault.
The force's alarming figures, revealed in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, highlight fears that the UK's youngsters are living increasingly unsheltered lives.
The largest group of young 'offenders' were 114 children responsible for assaults without injury.
Meanwhile 61 children - one as young as three - was listed as being responsible for car crime.
Other crimes included bike thefts, burglaries and hate incidents - with a five-year-old child listed among those responsible.
The figures show 478 children under 10 have been listed as responsible for crimes in the last five years.
A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "There are other punishments that can be given to children under 10 who break the law.
"Options available to the police include a Local Child Curfew which gives the police the power to ban children from being in a public place between 9pm and 6am, unless accompanied by an adult.
"If a child breaks their curfew, they can be given a Child Safety Order.
"If a child has committed an offence or broken a Local Child Curfew, they can be placed under the supervision of a youth offending team."
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The revelations came as the NSPCC said young children cannot be accountable for their actions and called for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised from 10 to 12.
The age of criminal responsibility in England is 10 years old. This means that children under 10 cannot be charged with a crime.
A spokesman for the NSPCC said: "The criminal justice system must support children who have committed offences.
"They must support them to change their behaviour and hold young people increasingly accountable for their actions as they mature.
"But at age ten, children are unlikely to understand the consequences of their actions or be able to effectively participate in criminal proceedings."
Child crimes in Cumbria
The police spokesman added: "When children do commit offences, they tend to be against other children.
"The majority of the offences reported to have been committed by children are antisocial-type offences such as damage to property."
Today West Mercia Police admitted children as young as nine had been reported to them for cyberbullying offences last year.
The number of victims aged under 18 has also more than doubled according to the West Midlands-based force - up from 71 reports in 2015 to 121 reports in 2016.
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