On Tuesday an 8-year-old girl in Hayes, west London, claims she was raped by two 10-year-old boys, while playing near her home. The boys were arrested on the suspicion of rape, questioned and then released on bail.
Neighbors said the little girl was recently allowed to play in the park unsupervised by her parents. Before this alleged incident, her parents would not let her play outside the house at all.
Whether or not the little girl is telling the truth, violence like this prevails and it only takes a moment for someone to be raped or abducted within feet of their home.
Last month in Edington, South Yorks, England, two boys aged 10 and 12, admitted to luring two other boys in secluded area and torturing them leaving one fighting for his life.
The pattern here is the age of these suspects. Violent acts are being committed by the younger generation as the years progress.
According to the Center for Disease Control, about 1,561 youth under the age of 18 were arrested for homicide in 2000. Also in 2000, persons under the age of 18 committed nine percent of murders.
What makes these preteens want to evoke such violence on one another? People may never know the question, but the only precautions we can take is to guard our younger loved ones and make sure they are not subject to violent activity to provoke them.
Courtney Ralls for the Editorial Board.