Children as young as 13 have been cautioned for crimes in the Halstead area.

Nine children from Halstead were cautioned between April last year and August this year.

Their offences were assault occasioning actual bodily harm, burglary, common assault and battery, and theft.

The youngest of these were two 13-year-olds - one cautioned for burglary and the other for common assault and battery.

Ninety youngsters aged ten to 17 have received cautions for various offences across the Braintree district between April 2012 and August this year.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "The use of caution, reprimand or warning is directed by standards agreed at a national level and adopted by all Home Office police forces and other investigatory bodies.

"Before an offence is finalised by way of caution, reprimand or warning a detailed assessment of the full circumstances must be made."

* Full story in this week's Halstead Gazette.