NEW figures show the number of children arrested by West Mercia Police has fallen by 85 per cent since 2010.
The findings, in a report by The Howard League for Penal Reform, show 805 child arrests were made in West Mercia in 2017 compared with 5,491 in 2010.
A West Mercia spokesperson said the way they respond to incidents involving children has helped see this reduction.
They said this included a proportionate response to allegations and a recognition the police should not seek to criminalise young people unnecessarily.
The use of Restorative Justice has also placed an emphasis on working with both victims and offenders to find alternative solutions.
