A 14-year-old boy caught up in riots sparked by the Southport stabbings has avoided punishment after police and prosecutors decided the wrath of his parents was sufficient.
Stephen Parkinson, director of public prosecutions (DPP), said the telling-off the child received after being marched to a police station was “more effective” than taking him through the courts.
570 people have appeared in court in relation to the disorder. At least 49 of those charged were aged under 18.
Mr Parkinson said prosecutors were “very alive” to the risk of children being criminalised unnecessarily but “sometimes, I’m afraid, the state has to intervene”
Last Tuesday, the youngest person to appear in court over the riots was given a 12-month referral order and a three-month curfew after pleading guilty to violent disorder.
The 12-year-old boy, who cannot be named, threw two stones at police officers.
“Sometimes the state, I’m afraid, has to intervene,” Mr Parkinson said.
“And the consequence of an intervention like the 12-year-old is a referral order, which would then mean that rehabilitation can take place and we can divert them from the path of criminality.
“That’s the objective with youngsters, not to criminalise them, it’s to put them on the right path.”
