Children who took part in the recent riots should only be prosecuted as “a last resort”, the head of the body that oversees the youth justice system in England and Wales has said, warning against a rush to punish those involved.
Keith Fraser, the chair of the Youth Justice Board, said it was a “real, real worry” that boys as young as 11 were involved in the disorder but he cautioned against making snap decisions to haul them before the courts.
