UN committee accuses Britain over child rights

A UN panel says children in Britain are too often portrayed as criminals in the media and treated like adults by law enforcement agencies.

The Committee on the Rights of the Child wants Britain to reconsider its practice of subjecting children to so-called “anti-social behaviour orders” and storing their DNA records even if they have never been charged or found guilty of a crime.

In its report today, the Geneva-based panel also expressed concern about the high level of child poverty in Britain and urged the Government to do more to help those who were worst off.