More than 100 UK children a day convicted of criminal offences

More than 360,000 children have been convicted of crimes since Labour came to power

Nearly 30,000 of them were under 13. Children under 16 are now being convicted at a rate of more than 100 every day, according to Government statistics.

Official figures placed in the House of Commons Library during MPs' summer recess show that the number of children found guilty of crimes has grown steadily since Labour came to power in 1997.

There were 38,761 children aged 15 or under convicted in 2007. That is more than 50 per cent higher than the 24,748 juvenile convictions that were recorded in 1997.

In the decade from 1997, a total of 368,705 children were convicted in courts in England and Wales. Some 29,456 of the children were aged between 10 and 12. And 339,249 were aged between 13 and 15.

The number of children receiving criminal cautions has also risen steadily. In 1997, there were 63,418 cautions given to children under 16. In 2007, the total was 82,616.

Figures released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families last year showed big regional disparities in criminal activity, with the highest rates of offending found in the poorest parts of the country. More

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