Support Networks "Most hate crimes involve youngsters, and the root cause is almost always a weak or disinterested support system," he said.

They also offer schools, sailing clubs and youth clubs support on navigating the legal obligations surrounding involving youngsters in adventurous activities.

The publicity attending what seems like an endless series of horrific incidents involving youngsters has contributed to the current willingness to return to the earlier time of treating children on a par with adults.

When the trial started on Monday, Mr Goldring said that following a number of mysterious incidents involving youngsters at the hospital, it became clear there was a criminal at large on Ward 4, the children's ward.

The report comes at a time when a series of disturbing, even morally unfathomable crimes involving youngsters have attracted enormous popular attention.

'48 Hours' 'Pushed Too Far' CBS, tonight at 10 A very different sort of problem involving youngsters receives attention in tonight's edition of "48 Hours."

If we look at the incidents that have been reported, very often they involve youngsters.

But 600 violations involved youngsters up to 17 years of age who were operating dangerous machinery, and a few involved children 13 and under who, with a few exceptions like delivering newspapers, are not permitted to work at paying jobs.

There are few precise figures on different types of shootings involving youngsters, but experts estimate are that about 300 children a year die in accidental shootings, a figure that has apparently held steady in recent years.