Statistics provided by the Youth Justice Board (YJB) following a Freedom of Information request show that last year, young offenders aged between 10 and 17 were charged with murder on 25 occasions. A further 11 charges were laid for attempted murder, 42 for rape, 11 for kidnapping, 15 for false imprisonment and 20 for firearms offences.
YJB chief executive John Drew said: "The number of children who commit serious offences is relatively small and it is therefore difficult to predict those who will do so."
The issue of risk of harm to the public was highlighted last month when an inspection report into youth offending services in North Lincolnshire found that half of the screenings for risk of serious harm posed by children and young offenders were wrong.
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