Watchdog says UK jails too many children

Thomas Hammarberg, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, told Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke that the UK’s justice system for juveniles was “excessively punitive”.

He warned that the system might breach human rights laws and is “counter-productive”, suggesting it contributed to high reoffending rates.

Mr Hammarberg also called for the age of criminal responsibility in the UK to be raised from 10 to the European average of 15, saying the current “very low age... remains a serious concern”.

And he criticised the UK for dealing with breaches of anti-social behaviour orders (Asbos) in criminal courts, saying: “Children should not be imprisoned as a result of breaching a civil order.”

Mr Hammarberg called for stronger protection of the privacy of young suspects, preventing cases of vilification of children in the press.

In his reply, Mr Clarke said the UK has no plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility, but accepted that prosecution “was not always the most appropriate response to youth offending”.