WEST Mercia Police has recorded almost 6,000 incidents in children’s homes in the last three years, a new report reveals.

Research shows children living in these homes are being criminalised at excessively high rates compared to other boys and girls, including those in other types of care.

The findings are published in a Howard League report, Criminal Care: Children’s homes and criminalising children. It calls for more support to be given to looked after children during their teenage years so that they are not pushed into the criminal justice system by homes that are supposed to be helping them.

Frances Crook, chief executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: "These children have been taken into care because they are in dire need and their parents cannot, or will not, look after them.

"They are wonderful young people who have had a really bad start in life. They deserve every chance to flourish.

"Private companies, charities and local authorities that are paid a fortune by the taxpayer should give these children what they need and deserve."

The report draws on Department for Education statistics, which indicate that about four per cent of children aged 10 to 12 who live in children’s homes have been criminalised, rising to more than 19 per cent among children aged 13 to 15.

Among 13 to 15-year-olds, children living in children’s homes are almost six times as likely to be criminalised as looked after children in other placements – and almost 20 times more likely to be criminalised than a non-looked after child.

It states 'the children who are being criminalised whilst teenagers are the same children who, when younger, were sympathetically viewed as vulnerable, innocent and highly deserving of society's help and protection.'

And goes onto say 'there appears to be a ‘tipping point’ around the age of 13, at which time these children lose society’s sympathy and, rather than being helped, they are pushed into the criminal justice system.'

A spokesman for the police says its patch, Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Telford and Wrekin, contains the highest number of children's homes and that every report is filed as crime if it meets the requirements.

He said: "West Mercia Police force area, which encompasses Herefordshire, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Worcestershire, contains the highest number of children's care homes in England, compared with other police force areas.

"It is committed to protecting people from harm and if an incident is reported to police, this will be investigated and recorded as a crime if it meets the criteria for an offence as outlined by the Home Office Counting Rules.

"We work closely with partner agencies and each reported incident is carefully managed on a case-by-case basis. Police work with care homes and children exploring alternatives including restorative justice."