SCHOOLCHILDREN are both the main offenders and victims of crime, according to an audit that was published this week.

Ealing Council has carried out an audit of crime over the past two years based on the views of a panel of 545 residents. Information was also contributed by the police, health service, fire brigade and voluntary groups. The council has published the results and plans to deliver it to every household in the borough along with a Crime and Disorder Questionnaire so residents can help to formulate the next Crime Reduction Strategy, due in Spring 2002.

The audit revealed that of those arrested in 2000, 35 per cent were aged 21 years and under and that far higher proportions of children and young people are suspects and victims of crime compared to adults. Particularly high percentages of young people were involved in the theft of motor vehicles and robberies.

Robberies in 2000 were up 35 per cent from 1998 and 70 per cent of suspects were male and aged between 10 and 21. Three quarters of the victims were male with the largest proportion aged from 10 to 15 years of age.

Ealing Borough Police Commander Peter Goulding said: "It is worrying that so many young people are offenders and victims but, historically, national statistics and academic research show high proportions of children are involved in crime.

"Ealing has a large young population and that number is growing but there is a lot of work going on to divert children from crime."

He added: "We have a police consultative group that works with young representatives which has produced a fact sheet for their peers on police 'stop-and-search' powers and a video on the danger of carrying knives. We also have Youth Action Teams, groups of young people identifying solutions to youth crime."

Completed questionnaires should be returned to: London Borough of Ealing, Community Safety and Crime Unit, Freepost LON3825, London, W5 2BR by January 14.

By.Mark Choueke