West Midlands parents attacked by children nearly 200 times in one year

Detectives recorded almost 200 cases of children under the age of 18 attacking their mother or father over the past year – and officers fear that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Det Insp Sally Simpson from West Midlands Police Public Protection Unit that deals with domestic abuse said: "I do not doubt that this is an under-reported offence and I suspect the actual figure is much higher."

The force received 460 reports of young teeny tearaways committing domestic offences last year. Of these 194 were children on parents including 115 physical assaults plus threats to kill, criminal damage, domestic thefts and fraud.

The youngest of the tiny thugs was a girl aged just 12 whose mother was near breaking point after repeated attacks that started when the child was eight years old.

The woman had been kicked, punched, throttled and spat at on a near daily basis.

The girl was arrested on suspicion of assault earlier this year but, following an investigation by police officers specially trained in dealing with these sensitive cases, the mother chose not to make a formal complaint against her daughter.

The matter was filed by police and is now being handled by the children's services department of the local council.

Child health specialists are helping the girl to learn to control her temper while social workers have been assigned to assist other children in the family.

In another case a 15-year-old hurled an ashtray through a TV screen during a row with his parents at their Wolverhampton home and in another unrelated matter a similarly aged boy punched his mother in the face when she asked him to help around the house.

Only 13 of the 194 reports of under-18s attacking a parent were formally charged. Ten more were given youth cautions and a dozen other complaints were dealt with through community resolutions.

such as agreeing to engage with social workers or attend behaviour management sessions.

DI Simpson explained: "Incidents range from humiliating language and threats, belittling a parent and damaging property to stealing from the home or bouts of explosive violence. The outbursts usually take place in the home and can be sparked by the smallest of incidents.

"Around six in ten such allegations passed to us are dropped because the victim decides not to support a formal prosecution. Understandably most are reluctant to criminalise their own children and will exhaust all other options in an effort to change the child's behaviour before resorting to a formal prosecution.

"We have to ask whether taking a child to court or blighting them with a police caution is in their best interests and will address underlying issues. It can make matters worse.

"In the short term we can protect people and property. But we can also start the process with children's services, education, mental health or probation to ensure we have a clear understanding of the family history and develop a plan to best address a child's behaviour."

To speak to your local Public Protection Unit call West Midlands Police on 101. More support is available through:

http://www.youngminds.org.uk – a child mental health charity and parent helpline

http://www.rosalieryriefoundation.org.uk – behavioural management specialising in domestic abuse and destructive relationships within families