China frets over rise in violent juvenile crime

BEIJING, Jan 11 (Reuters) China has seen a 68 per cent rise in juvenile crime in five years and that figure is going to rise, a state newspaper said on Tuesday, blaming a new culture of youth violence.

The Beijing Morning Post quoted a survey by the China Youth and Children Studies research group which said the trend was getting worse despite a stable increase in the youth population.

''Earlier development and the culture of violence are to blame for an increase in harmful actions among adolescents under 14,'' the newspaper said without elaborating.

Pirated DVDs, including violent and adult material, are available on every street corner and computer and online gaming has exploded in China in recent years.

Amid growing concern that more and more young people are becoming hooked, China has issued a raft of regulations aimed at curbing excessive game playing at internet cafes and heavily fining owners that admit minors.

REUTERS SP KP1323