Government slammed over youth crime

Professor Rod Morgan, the former chair of the youth justice board, said the offences could often be better punished informally.

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve accused the Government of "pursuing easy targets" instead of "real criminals".

In his report for the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies at King's College, London, Prof Morgan said there had been an "extensive net widening" in the use of summary powers such as cautions and on-the-spot fines.

The report found there was "too ready criminalisation of children and young people for minor offences". It said: "There is a good deal of anecdotal evidence, for example, that behaviour, particularly that of children and young people, is being criminalised which arguably would be better dealt with informally (school-related misbehaviour, for example) and in previous times was."

Prof Morgan said: "The increased use of pre-court summary justice is one of the most important elements in the Government's strategy for modernising the criminal justice system. The implementation of the strategy has received virtually no research, inspectoral or parliamentary scrutiny.

"The trend towards pre-court summary justice should more incisively be scrutinised to ensure that justice is being meted out fairly and effectively. We cannot be wholly confident that this is so."

Mr Grieve said: "Labour's ad hoc and distorted approach has created the worst of both worlds. Not only are serious offenders escaping real justice due to the reliance on spot fines but, as this report shows, many people who should be dealt with informally are being criminalised."

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said the authorities were keen to avoid dragging children through the courts if possible. He said: "The best way to avoid a criminal record is not to break the law. The law-abiding majority want to see crimes dealt with effectively and Fixed Penalty Notices and cautions are part of this process.

"They allow police to deal swiftly with low-level offending, freeing them up to spend more time on frontline duties and more time investigating violent, dangerous and serious offences. They also free up court time for more serious cases."