CHILD crime rates in Devon and Cornwall have dropped drastically in just six years, the Howard League for Penal Reform (HLPR) has revealed.

A spokesman said: ‘Devon and Cornwall Police should be applauded for their positive approach, and the Howard League is proud to have played its part in a transformation that will make our communities safer.’

Research shows a link between the amount of contact children have with the criminal justice system and reoffending rates.

Child arrests in Devon and Cornwall have dropped by an impressive 76 per cent, from 4,132 in 2010, to a mere 994 just last year.

The spokesman added: ‘By working together, we are ensuring that tens of thousands of children will have a brighter future and not be dragged into a downward spiral of crime and custody.’