Referrals to the Children's Reporter increased by 10%

The Scottish Children's Reporter Administration (SCRA) found that 50,529 were referred during 2004/5.

The figure represents one in 20 of the country's young people.

The vast majority of children were referred for their own care and protection but there was also a rise in the number accused of offences.

The number of "non-offence referrals" rose by 12% to 37,460 during the reporting period.

Anti-social behaviour

The number of such cases, usually children without parental care or at risk of physical or sexual abuse, had increased by 155% since 1995, the SCRA said.

There was also a 6% rise, to 17,494, in the number of referrals of children accused of committing offences.

Some 1,260 of these (5% of all children referred) were repeat offenders and responsible for almost a third of all crimes dealt with by the reporter.

SCRA principal reporter Margaret Cox said: "This year we are reporting another rise in the number of children referred to the reporter.

"The most significant aspect of these figures is that three-quarters of these children are being referred because of concerns about their welfare.

"The rise in the number of young people involved in offending, albeit smaller, is disappointing but probably reflects the increased focus on tackling youth crime and addressing anti-social behaviour."

Five local authorities - Glasgow, Edinburgh, Fife, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire - made up 40% of all referrals.

SCRA chairman Douglas Bulloch said that the figures would not come down until the underlying causes such as poverty, broken homes and alcohol abuse had been tackled.