ALMOST half of school children aged 11 to 17 have committed a crime, according to a major study of behaviour published today by a York-based organisation.

The national Youth At Risk? survey, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, also revealed that four out of ten students in Year Ten admitted they had "binged" on drink.

Violence, including weapon-carrying, was an "acknowledged part of life" for a significant number of young people, especially boys.

One in five boys aged 15 to 16 admitted attacking someone with the intention of seriously hurting them.

Researchers found that one in ten boys aged 11 to 12 admitted carrying a knife or other weapon in the previous year, rising to one in four by Year 11.

The study involved a sample of 14,000 secondary school pupils who filled in a confidential questionnaire. Jane Brown, director of Safer York Partnership, said she had not seen the report, but said levels of youth offending in York were dropping.

"We have recently completed our second crime audit, which has found that there has been a reduction in the proportion of crimes committed by those aged between 10 and 17," she told the Evening Press.

"The percentage has dropped from 28 per cent in the first survey to 22 per cent now, which suggests we have been quite successful locally in preventing young people from offending, and dealing with them when they do.

"I'm sure most young people would admit to having committed some kind of crime, but there's a difference between nicking a penny chew and being a threat to the community."

Murray Rose, assistant director of education at City of York Council, said: "I haven't seen these results myself, but I believe it focuses on what school-age pupils get up to, rather than what actually happens in schools.

"Schools in York are well-structured places, and when problems occur, they are appropriately dealt with. Exclusions and truancy are down.

"The odd offence once or twice does not suggest a person has become difficult to manage, or has switched off from education."

The survey said a quarter of Year Nine pupils admitted binge-drinking on five or more alcoholic drinks.

Researchers from the Communities that Care organisation found 48.5 per cent of those interviewed said they had broken the law at some stage in their lives.

A third of Year Ten pupils admitted vandalism in the past year, and more than a quarter admitted shoplifting, while one in ten boys admitted having committed a burglary.

Cannabis had been used by 30 per cent of Year 11 boys and a quarter of girls, but frequent use was much lower.

Five per cent of boys and four per cent of girls in Year 11 admitted having tried Ecstasy.

For cocaine, the figure was four per cent for boys, and 2.5 per cent for girls. Heroin was less than two per cent and less than one per cent respectively.

A fifth of children said they felt unsafe in their communities and nearly 40 per cent of Year 11 pupils admitted playing truant.

The report also identifies risk factors and "protective" factors, which can either incite or discourage offending within a family context.

It is available from the foundation on 01904 629241, or online at www.jrf.org.uk

Updated: 11:10 Monday, April 08, 2002