Bid to name child criminals slammed

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The Government's widely-trailed Youth Crime Action Plan said ministers would ask judges to consider widening the number of cases in which 16 and 17-year-old offenders could be publicly named.

Newspapers and broadcasters are banned from identifying criminals under 18, apart from in exceptional cases, usually involving extreme violence.

The proposal could see anonymity being lifted far more regularly.

Elizabeth Lovell of the Children's Society said the move could turn convictions into a "badge of honour" and may breach United Nations child protection rules.

"We are very concerned that it is in contravention of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which states that children under 18 in trouble with the law will have a right to privacy," said Ms Lovell.

"It could also become a badge of honour. The move could also hinder rehabilitation and integration into society."

There was no evidence that identifying child criminals helped prevent crime, she added.

The Government's action plan came on the day police revealed that an 81-year-old man died from a suspected heart attack after vandals attacked his home in North Hykeham, near Lincoln.

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: "Despite a decade of endless initiatives and a dedicated 'respect agenda', anti-social behaviour is rising. We need action at every level to fix our broken society."