IT IS rare that children who commit crimes are publicly identified and even rarer that their faces are plastered across the front pages of the newspapers.

Last week we saw the mug shots of five incredibly young-looking boys charged with violent intent after a petrol bomb attack on a Ryelands shop.

The judge, who handed out sentences totalling 24 years, lifted the usual reporting restrictions and explained that "those who commit adult crimes cannot expect to receive childhood sentences."

Lancaster City Council, who had employed 'professional witnesses' in a bid to secure a conviction, considered the harsh sentences as vindication of a job well done and one local newspaper made a sweeping editorial condemnation of the boys, describing them as "bad" human beings.

So, with five youngsters securely detained at Her Majesty's pleasure, our consciences are eased and justice has been seen to be done.

Or is this sorry tale not quite so black and white?

The youngest "bad 'un" has actually been on the front pages of local newspapers before. He made the news as victim after being shot at in the street. He needed hospital treatment to remove an air-gun pellet that was lodged close to his eye. At the time of the Ryelands attack this "bad" lad was 11-years-old and barely four feet tall. There can be no excusing the actions of these boys, it is right that they should be punished, but tell me what good will come from handing out such severe sentences to children?

They are obviously troubled youngsters. After four or five years detained behind the walls of some state institution they will almost certainly be released as troubled adults even more ill at ease with the world. The grown-ups involved, surely more responsible for their actions, received much more lenient sentences and, what is disturbing, is that convicted child molesters often get less for their crimes.

The widespread publicity looks good for a society coming to terms with rising crime and violence. The police have secured convictions on a notorious estate, the council has been seen to act on a long-running problem and self-righteous newspapers can take on the role of a witchfinder general to safeguard our moral sensibilities. Yes, there is a problem of violence and prejudice on one of the city's estates which has led to an unfortunate shopkeeper being made a scapegoat for other people's anger and hostility. But, by so publicly handing out such harsh sentences, society's anger has made scapegoats of these children. There is no justice in that. Try studying this...

Boffins at Lancaster University are spearheading a £4 million study into why the poor die earlier than rich people. Citizen Smith would like to contribute to this invaluable, scientific research. Here it goes - good quality food, membership of the local health spa, relaxing foreign holidays, a more pleasant home environment, private health care and greater leisure opportunities... costs money.

That will be £4 million pounds please!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.