Portsmouth has highest rate of youth crime offences across the south east - higher even than London

Ministry of Justice data reveals that 170 children aged under 18 in Portsmouth were cautioned by police or sentenced in court in the year to March 2020.

Between them, the children and teenagers were involved in more than 550 offences across the city.

When looked at per 10,000 population the data shows that Portsmouth has the highest rate of children cautioned or sentenced, and the highest rate of youth offences in the south east.

The city has more than 18,000 young people aged between 10 and 17has a higher rate than cities with comparable numbers of young people, such as Southampton, Brighton, and Slough.

The rate is even higher than any London borough over the period – although the actual number of children involved in crime is more similar to less-populated areas.

Over the last two years, The News has repeatedly covered high-profile incidents of youth crime and disorder, ranging from a youth riot at the Hot Walls during the summer of 2019 to children as young as 12 involved in county line drug dealing.

The recently-elected police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and former Portsmouth councillor, Donna Jones, said the high rate was ‘concerning’ and pledged to work with other authorities to tackle the ‘complex’ issue.