Our lawless streets just got worse

An 11-year-old girl has been caught hurling a brick through the glass door of a supermarket before smashing her way in.

She then rampaged through the travel shop at Sainsbury's, destroying computer equipment. She has already been arrested more than 30 times this year.

The case emerged on the day Tony Blair tried to take personal control of Britain's street crime epidemic.

But Home Secretary David Blunkett conceded after the Downing Street summit that police, courts and the Government cannot win the battle against crime alone, insisting that parents and the community at large must take responsibility.

Mr Blunkett today pleaded with Chancellor Gordon Brown for more funds to help him beat crime. But the scale of the problem posed by Britain's untouchable young criminals was laid bare by the case of the 11-year-old from Bristol.

Already out on bail for another offence, she smashed her way into the shop in front a witness who said: "I heard a banging and looked towards Sainsbury's.

"I noticed what looked like a little girl throwing a heavy brick at its window. At first I thought she was just throwing it for fun. But then she started kicking it and picking bits of glass off piece by piece with her bare hands, so I called 999. You would not think an 11-year-old girl would be on the street at 11pm."

When police arrived at the incident on Monday, she threatened two officers with a large piece of glass and a rock and hurled a brick at the photographer.

The girl, who is living in a community home run by social services, appeared at Bristol Youth Court yesterday for breach of bail. She is also suspected of carrying out at least one armed robbery, and has left police officers in need of hospital treatment in the past.

After her latest court appearance, she was immediately rearrested on suspicion of burglary in connection with her actions at the Sainsbury's store.

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