A 14-year-old boy involved in the post-Southport riots was so severely reprimanded by his parents that police and prosecutors decided to take no further action.
The director of public prosecutions said the anger of the mother and father, who took their son to a police station after learning of his involvement in the disorder on social media, was punishment enough.
Stephen Parkinson said: “The anger that the parents of that boy felt was more effective than anything the criminal justice system could offer.”
But he said there were others for whom rioting was a leisure activity and “families treated it as a day out”.
Mr Parkinson, who took over as head of the Crown Prosecution Service last year, said he was “very aware” of the risk of children being unnecessarily criminalised after becoming involved in the riots that erupted in the wake of the Southport stabbings in July that left three girls dead.
Riot police hold back protesters in Southport on July 30, 2024
Crown Prosecution Service chief prosecutor Stephen Parkinson said: “The anger the parents inflicted on that child was more effective than anything the criminal justice system could offer.”
One of the youngest defendants was a 12-year-old boy who made headlines after his mother decided to fly to Ibiza for a holiday the day before his court appearance.
A judge later ordered him to pay £1,200 in compensation and attend a parenting course. The boy was given a 12-month commitment order after admitting violent disorder.
“Sometimes the state has to step in,” Parkinson said. “A diversion order would mean that rehabilitation can take place.”
“That is the goal with young people, not to criminalize them, but to put them on the right path.”
More than 600 people have been charged over the Southport riots, according to data compiled by the PA news agency.
Of these, 75 are children under 18 years of age, which represents 13 percent of the total.
Mr Parkinson said the first sentence handed down in connection with the riots “sent a shockwave” and helped stop further violence.
Police officers stand firm as far-right protesters chant “Enough is enough!” in reaction to fatal stabbings in Southport
Police van set on fire in Southport during riots
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer walks with a wreath for the three children who were victims of a knife attack in Southport
He added that the CPS was “proud of the way we responded.”
He said the CPS would “review” its involvement in public disorder prosecutions and “reflect on the lessons to be learned”.
And Mr Parkinson said his “top priority” over the next year is to address delays in progressing cases so that “justice is delivered more quickly” as well as providing better support to victims in a bid to reduce the number of people withdrawing from court proceedings.
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