THE number of crimes committed by a hard core of repeat youth offenders went up last year, according to new figures.

The annual report of the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administrator showed that offences committed by young people went up from 29,232 in 2001-2 to 30,129 in 2002-3.

A record number of cases – 37,727 – were also referred to the Children’s Reporter.

However, the number of children being dealt with by the system fell, with 14,404 children dealt with in 2002-3, compared with 15,132 the year before.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive said the figures showed that ministers were correct to focus on cracking down on youth offending through measures such as the Anti-Social Behaviour Bill.

“One of the key messages of the report is it supports the Executive’s decision to tackle persistent young offenders,” she said.

However, the SNP accused the Executive of failing to tackle crime carried out by a “hard core” of young offenders.

Nicola Sturgeon, the party’s justice spokeswoman, said: “This Executive is obsessed by talking tough on youth crime, but these figures reveal the extent of this failure.

“We need a twin-track approach to youth crime that puts resources into our communities to keep our kids out of a life of crime in the first place.

“But we also need to tackle the growing hard core of offenders,” Ms Sturgeon said.

Annabel Goldie, the justice spokeswoman for the Conservative Party, said she was particularly concerned about the rise in the number of youngsters suffering from a lack of parental care.

“One of the strengths of the system has been its ability to cater for the needs of those children most at risk from difficult family circumstances and for whom early intervention can make a huge difference,” Ms Goldie said.

“But to be effective, the panels must be able to concentrate their efforts on those who can best be helped.”