*Police criminalising young to hit targets, says charity

A police drive aimed at thousands of low-level teenage offenders lies behind an apparent surge in youth crime figures, according to an analysis published today. Police figures suggest reported minor offences by young people soared by 38.9% from 2003-2006, and detected serious offences rose by 19%.

But research by the charity Nacro says this rise has more to do with police criminalising minor teenage misdemeanours - previously they would have been dealt with by an informal ticking off.