Ten teenage criminals guilty of more than 1600 offences

TEN teenagers have been responsible for a massive crime wave in Edinburgh involving mor than 1600 offences, it was revealed today.

Children as young as 14 have carried out hundreds of crimes such as robbery, serious assault, housebreaking, fire-raising and extortion. One 14-year-old from the east of the city has committed 233 offences to become the most prolific teen criminal in the Capital in the last three years.

Despite being repeatedly arrested by police, it is understood most of the "top ten" are free to roam the streets.

The figures, released under freedom of information laws, today sparked fury among politicians who called for the serial offenders to be locked up.

They criticised a "lack" of secure unit places in Edinburgh to incarcerate the worst criminals and called for new youth courts to handle such cases. Police chiefs admitted the youngster's records made "horrendous reading" as officers struggle to bring them under control.

The ten teenagers with the worst criminal histories during the past three years have carried out 1635 offences.

Police chiefs charged with tackling this "hardcore minority" have previously said persistent offenders were usually suspected of ten times more crimes than those for which they were charged. Among this group, that would swell the total to more than 16,000 offences.

Inspector Andy Gilhooley, youth justice inspector for Edinburgh, said: "There are a small number of youths who are carrying out huge levels of offending.

"It can't be denied that these statistics make horrendous reading and the impact on their local community is a big cause for concern. These are not the kids involved in antisocial behaviour, under-age drinking and vandalism. These are young criminals carrying out serious offences.

"We're working with schools, social workers, the city council and other agencies to try to stop them entering the criminal justice system and becoming hardened career criminals. But there's no simple answer."

The lack of secure unit places to lock up young offenders in Edinburgh has come under fire in recent weeks after two 14-year-old joyriders from Craigmillar caught by the Evening News were freed by the Children's Panel to go on another crime spree.

The pair were finally ordered to be locked up last month, but the city only has 12 residential places to house delinquent children under the age of 16.

Kenny MacAskill, SNP justice spokesman, said: "This supports our argument that more secure places need to be created."

Margaret Mitchell, Tory justice spokeswoman, said: "The hearing system needs more powers such as the ability to order weekend and evening detentions and drug treatment orders to youths this age. Youngsters like these should be going to youth courts to look at their behaviour at the earliest possible stage."

Councillor Andrew Burns, the city's children and families leader, defended the council's record in providing places. He said: "The number of secure beds in each local authority area is set by the Scottish Executive.

"We are extremely confident that we have enough beds to meet our current needs."

On Saturday, it was revealed that the number of young offenders in Edinburgh committing serial offences has risen over the past year. The Scottish Executive figures showed 87 children aged between eight and 16 were reported for at least five crimes during a nine-month period. The volume of persistent young offenders went up across Scotland.

40 youngsters arrested for drug dealing in last 3 years

MORE than 40 youngsters have been arrested for drug dealing in the Lothians over the past three years.

Among the arrests were a 12-year-old and two 14-year-olds charged with selling the anti-hyperactivity drug Ritalin.

It comes as it emerged up to 100 children, some as young as ten, are being arrested in Scotland every year for dealing drugs ranging from heroin and cocaine to cannabis.

Nationwide, police seized 20kg of illegal substances from child dealers, most of whom were being employed as pushers by older dealers, or had stolen supplies from relatives.

The youngest charged was a ten-year-old supplier of Ecstasy caught by Strathclyde Police.

Strathclyde Police also caught two 11-year-old heroin pushers and a 13-year-old selling cocaine.

Central Scotland found a 15-year-old selling cannabis, diazepam and cocaine, while Fife Constabulary caught a 13-year-old dealing amphetamines.

Scotland's most senior drugs enforcement officer said some children were following the bad example of celebrities, like The View's frontman Kyle Falconer.

Graeme Pearson, head of the Scottish Crime and Drugs Enforcement Agency, said: "Prominent people and celebrities who call for drugs to be decriminalised are not helping.

"Young people are using what they say as justification for trying drugs.

"Kyle Falconer now has an opportunity to put it all behind him and choose whether he is going to be a drug abuser or a musician of real note, but he can't be both."

The ten most prolific young offenders in Edinburgh

A 14- ear-old from East Edinburgh responsible for 233 crimes, including theft, vandalism, theft of a motor vehicle, fireraising and assault.

A 15-year-old from North Edinburgh responsible for 224 crimes, including fireraising, theft, robbery, threats, racial abuse, vandalism and assault.

A 15-year-old from South West Edinburgh responsible for 167 crimes, including vandalism, assault and fireraising.

A 15-year-old from North Edinburgh responsible for 161 crimes, including racial abuse, assault, theft, vandalism and robbery.

A 15-year-old from South Edinburgh responsible for 152 crimes, including fireraising, theft of a motor vehicle, assault and racial abuse.

A 16-year-old from North Edinburgh responsible for 151 crimes, including vandalism, drug offences, theft, serious assault and possession of an offensive weapon.

A 17-year-old from North Edinburgh responsible for 146 crimes, including theft of a motor vehicle, robbery, extortion, theft, serious assault and possession of a weapon.

A 17-year-old from Central Edinburgh responsible for 145 crimes, including theft, robbery, racial abuse and assault.

A 16-year-old from Central Edinburgh responsible for 145 crimes, including theft, racial abuse, drug offences and assault.

A 16-year-old from South Edinburgh responsible for 111 crimes, including theft of a motor vehicle, vandalism, assault, racial abuse, threats and extortion.