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Information » Law & Rights » Crime

There is a general feeling in the U.K. that violent crime has increased dramatically in recent years this includes mobile mugging, gang fights, gun crimes and racist attacks, some of these involve murder and manslaughter.
In reality this is still a relatively peaceful country.
Although some areas of Wales and the U.K. have had an increase in violent crime the image that large numbers of young people are the source of these crimes is not really accurate.
Most young people are not involved in crime but are very likely to be the victims of crime.
In this section you can find more information on some categories of crime and links to other sites that will give more detailed information. Also included in some cases are telephone help lines.

To find out more about crime and crime statistics go to the following web site:

In order to reduce youth crime and prevent offending by young people and children the government established in 1998 the Crime and Disorder Act and Youth Justice System.
Youth Offending Teams (Y.O.T.s) have been set up in each local authority.
These involve the police working with Social Services, probation, education and health departments in the delivery of the youth justice services, the prevention of offending and ensuring that there are effective alternatives for young people from offending.
These teams work with young people aged 10 to 18.
As well as being dealt with by the police and justice system from the age of 14, like an adult with regard to criminal law, including burglary, traffic offences and violent crimes, young people from the age of 10 can be given an anti-social behaviour order ASBO.
These deal with serious but not necessarily criminal behaviour.
They are given to young people who are causing harassment, alarm or distress to anyone else.
If an anti-social behaviour order is made against you and you then do the things that you have specifically been told not to you could go to prison for up to 5 years. For more information go to