"Caution is, however, required. In particular, any notion that better screening can enable policy makers to identify young children destined to join the 5 per cent of offenders responsible for 50-60 per cent of crime is fanciful. Even if there were no ethical objections to putting “potential delinquent” labels round the necks of young children, there would continue to be statistical barriers. Research into the continuity of anti-social behaviour shows substantial flows out of – as well as in to – the pool of children who develop chronic conduct problems. This demonstrates the dangers of assuming that anti-social five-year-olds are the criminals or drug abusers of tomorrow, as well as for highlighting the undoubted opportunities that exist for prevention.”
Professor David Farrington FBA, ‘
Support from the Start: working with young children and their families to reduce the risks of crime and anti-social behaviour’, C Sutton, D Uttting, D Farrington, Home Office Research Brief RB524 (March 2005).
Cited in:
fipr Report, p.3