Guilty Until Proven Innocent

The government has defended plans to monitor children as young as three for potential criminal behaviour.

Children's minister Beverley Hughes said it was important to identify problems as early as possible.

"What you can begin to identify is children who are having difficulties at an early age and on the basis of that concern, make sure that parents and the child have the assistance to avoid those problems becoming any deeper."

The Home Office leaked document said children who were not "under control" by the age of three were four times more likely to be convicted of a violent offence.