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Post highlights problems of youth crime in Bristol

The problem of youth crime in Bristol is being highlighted in a campaign by the Bristol Evening Post.

An investigation by the Post has revealed that a small hardcore of children is terrorising communities across Bristol.

Their numbers are being swelled by thousands of other youngsters who are staying out until the early hours of the morning – often to drink alcohol, smoke and take drugs.

To gauge the level of youth crime in the area, the paper’s current affairs editor, Chris Maguire, spent three days at Bristol Youth Court.

Among the 45 cases to be heard was an 11-year-old accused of arson, a 12-year-old burglar and a 14-year-old who, while high on drugs, put stones on a railway line “to see what they would do”.

As part of the campaign, reporter Chris has also been looking at the problems faced by police on the ground, and visited all 12 of the city’s police sectors to find out more.

He found that police who patrol one sector of the city are regularly confronted by youths in stolen cars trying to provoke a chase, while in another sector, he spoke to an inspector who said juveniles were largely to blame for 15 street robberies in a two-week period.

Between January and September last year, 1,182 juveniles were prosecuted in Bristol for a range of crimes.

Police estimate that the majority of street robberies in Bristol are now committed by children against others youngsters – frequently involving mobile phones.

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