A 14-year-old boy involved in the Southport riots was given such a severe reprimand by his parents that police and the Crown Prosecution Service decided to take no further action.
According to the director of the Public Prosecution Service, the anger of the mother and father, who took their son to the police station after hearing about his involvement in the riots via social media, was punishment enough.
Stephen Parkinson said: ‘The anger his parents poured out on that child was more effective than anything the criminal justice system could provide.’
But he said others saw taking part in the riots as a leisure activity, and that “families saw it as a day out.”
Mr Parkinson, who took over as 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 followed the Southport stabbings in July, which left three young girls dead.
Riot police hold back protesters in Southport on July 30, 2024
Crown Prosecution Service, Stephen Parkinson, said: ‘The anger his parents inflicted on that child was more effective than anything the criminal justice system could provide.’
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 he was due to appear in court.
A judge later ordered her to pay £1,200 compensation and take a parenting course. The boy was given a 12-month referral order after admitting a violent disorder.
“Sometimes the state has to intervene,” Mr Parkinson said. “A referral order would mean that rehabilitation can take place.
“That’s 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 disturbances in Southport, according to figures from the PA news agency.
Of these, 75 are children under the age of 18 – 13 percent of the total.
Mr Parkinson said the first sentence handed down in connection with the riots sent a “shockwave” and helped prevent further violence.
Police officers stand by as far-right protesters shout ‘Enough is enough’ in response to fatal stabbings in Southport
A police van is set on fire in Southport during the riots
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer walks with floral tributes for the three child victims of a knife attack in Southport
He added that the CPS was “proud of the way we responded”.
He said the Public Prosecution Service (CPS) would “reconsider” its role in public disorder prosecutions and “consider the lessons that can be learned from this”.
And Mr Parkinson said his “top priority” for the coming year is to address delays in the progress of cases so that “justice is delivered more quickly”. He also wants to provide better support to victims so that fewer victims withdraw from prosecution.