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CRIME PREVENTION: Uproar over Home Office plan to pilot 80 fines for ten-year-olds

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Childrens charities have reacted angrily to a Home Office decision to run trials of on-the-spot fines for children as young as 10.The Government had said it would evaluate the success of fines on 16- and 17-year-olds before extending them to children. But it is now consulting with organisations such as the Youth Justice Board and the Association of Chief Police Officers on plans to extensively pilot 40 to 80 fixed penalty notices for 10- to 15-year-olds.

"Extending them would encourage the police to take action against anti-social behaviour that isn't being acted on at the moment," said a Home Office spokeswoman.

Police forces are being sounded out about whether they will pilot schemes, which have the support of the Prime Minister.

Nottinghamshire chief constable Steve Green has already endorsed them, saying fines were "no bad thing if it brings home to parents exactly where their kids are at night".

The Youth Justice Board said it would "look with interest" at how the pilots were evaluated.

Children's charities combined to oppose fixed penalty fines, which were introduced in the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act. Last year's Anti-social Behaviour Act extended them to 16- and 17-year-olds, and included the possibility of lowering the age to 10.

"There are concerns about the Government wanting to appear tough without considering the effectiveness of these measures," said Children's Society policy manager Sharon Moore.

"We didn't want fines to be introduced for 16- and 17-year-olds, and we certainly don't want them for children as young as 10," added Alison Linsey, policy and parliamentary officer at the National Children's Bureau.

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