A police chief has come under fire for saying officers should take a ‘sympathetic and caring’ approach to young offenders.
West Mercia Police Superintendent Kevin Purcell says taking child suspects into custody is ‘counter-productive’ and they should instead be interviewed at their homes.
But critics of his views said young offenders should not expect special treatment and should be dealt with the same as any other criminals.
West Mercia Police Superintendent Kevin Purcell has been criticised for saying young offenders should not be taken into custody on arrest
Supt Purcell made his comments after a 13-year-old boy was used by a criminal gang to smuggle class A drugs.
He said: ‘Arresting them [young suspects] into custody has been shown to be counter-productive in the long term as the children are then more likely to be involved in further crime.
‘The approach now is very much that the child will be interviewed about what they did, why they did it and then referred to the appropriate court or for caution.
‘Officers are required to assess the need to bring a child into custody. They would be interviewed under caution at their home address or another suitable location.
‘We won’t bring them into custody generally – however, for the most serious offences, custody is necessary.
‘Significant work is done with social services and county council to ensure that every child is dealt with in a sympathetic and caring way – considering why they are involved in crime or have been tasked to commit crime by an adult.
‘For many people, this may seem soft and they may think we should be more robust in what we do, however I am confident that the work we are doing locally and nationally is more likely to encourage the children to grow into responsible adults and not choose the path of crime.
‘Children who are dealt with sensitively are more likely to engage with police and in doing so are more likely to move away from those that have been part of the offending.’
It comes after a case dealt with by West Mercia Police, headquarters pictured, of a boy who was used to smuggle drugs for a gang
He warned that many children in care were being crimimalised for offences which would not be reported if they lived with their own parents.
But his views have been criticised by some in the area his force serves.
Mother-of-three Julie Browne, 45, from Worcester, said: ‘A few years ago my mum was mugged and had her handbag nicked by a 15-year-old boy.
‘The police arrested him and, I hope, treated him in the same way any other criminal would have been.
‘I hate this softly, softly approach. No wonder youngsters have no respect for authority any more when even the police are too scared to give them a short sharp shock.’
Writing online, Gavin Yates added: ‘Young yobs should fear police not expect special treatment. Bring back the good old bobby who’d clip you round the ear.’
Another local, commenting on Worcester News, said: ‘It won’t work. No consequence means no disincentive not to try it again.’