Juvenile crime - Time State acted against young thugs

Efforts being made to cope with an alarming increase in juvenile crime are only a farce, according to probation officers.

Reported offences attributed to juveniles jumped by 42% in the two years from 2000 to 2002.

Sex offences by juveniles more than doubled, going up by 122%, while other serious assaults went up by 43.6%, and public order and drink-related offences have almost doubled in the same time. Juveniles are committing more and more serious crimes.