Don’t lock up child suspects, says police chief

Underage criminals should not be locked up because “children will always be children”, a police chief has claimed.

West Mercia Police Superintendent Kevin Purcell said that officers will try to avoid holding child suspects in custody and instead interview them at home. He added: “Often adults push children into crime such as drug supply and prostitution. Nationally and locally, we have been more aware that these children are victims of crime.”

Supt Purcell was speaking after a 13-year-old boy from Wolverhampton was used by a gang to smuggle class A drugs. He said putting children into custody has been shown to be counterproductive, as they are then more likely to be involved in further crime.