COMMENT: Stop spread of violent girl crimes

8:23am Friday 16th May 2008

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A SHOCKING new report has revealed worrying increases in violent crimes committed by girls. The number of crimes committed by female teenagers increased by more than a quarter in the three years to last April to almost 60,000, according to the report from the Youth Justice Board.

The figures should concern us all, particularly when the reality behind them was brought into such sharp focus in Worcester yesterday.

The city's crown court heard the case of a 14-year-old girl who carried out a series of unprovoked street attacks on other girls.

One of the assaults was filmed by the teenager's friends on their mobile phones.

One of the victims was kneed, punched and butted; another had her nose broken; and a third was punched in the face and slammed into a wall.

And the girl's reaction when she was arrested? She threatened to stab one of the victims and throw her into the river in a black bag.

It is, of course, an extreme case and it should be remembered that some of the violent offences listed by the Youth Justice Board involve minor schoolyard fights between girls.

Nevertheless, this particular case cannot be seen in isolation of the figures.

It is an example of a deeper malaise affecting our society.

There is a binge-drinking, ladette' culture that is being too readily taken up by many of our young women.

Finding ways to stop its spread is a challenge for society as a whole.