Convictions for robbery by teenagers soar by 43%

Fresh evidence of the growth in teenage crime is revealed today as figures show juvenile convictions jumped by a fifth in a year - with robbery up by more than 40 per cent.

The Crown Prosecution Service figures for London point to sharp increases in the number of killings, burglaries and attacks carried out last year by offenders aged 17 or under.

The biggest rise was in convictions for robbery, which leapt by 43 per cent.

Overall, the statistics show there were 14,904 juvenile convictions last year, an increase of 19 per cent on the 2006 total.

Although prosecutors say the increase is partly driven by greater efforts to bring cases to court, the leap will fuel concern about the growth of youth crime.

This has been highlighted by the recent wave of fatal stabbings and shootings involving teenagers. There have been three fatal knife attacks this year and a record teenage murder toll of 27 last year.

The figures show the increase in youth offending is not restricted to serious crime. Among the biggest increases are the number of convictions for violence, theft and burglary.

Dru Sharpling, chief crown prosecutor for London, said: "These figures reflect the fact we are working very hard with the police to bring more cases to court."

A boy of 17 was charged today with the murder of a student stabbed in a street fight. Boduka Mudianga, 18, was killed in Silver Street, Edmonton last Monday.

The 17-year-old, from the Edmonton area, was due to face magistrates charged with murder, and causing grievous bodily harm to a second man.