One fifth of UK riot suspects are children!

LONDON, England - August 13, 2011 - One in five of the suspects appearing before magistrates for violations connected with the recent riots here are children.

The statistic is highlighted by the most comprehensive analysis yet of the first defendants facing the courts following last week's violence.

Of 479 cases that have appeared in magistrates' courts around the country, 21% are age 17 or under, entitling them to anonymity and more lenient punishments.

This statistic casts doubt on Prime Minister David Cameron's promise to hand out harsh prison sentences to those responsible for the terrible scenes that blighted Britain in recent days.

Almost half of the children and underage teenagers face burglary charges relating to the looting of shops and other businesses and around 20% are facing trial for violent disorder.

But judges and magistrates have extremely limited sentencing powers when dealing with those below the age of consent, with prison an absolute last resort under current rules.

The vast majority of young people appearing before the courts have been released under referral orders, which oblige them only to meet support workers or observe curfews.

Figures show that the majority of those involved last week - 53% - were 21 years old or younger, reinforcing widespread fears about breakdown of respect for law and order among the young.