Its survey of more than 2,000 adults in the UK, published on Monday, found that 54 per cent think that children are beginning to behave like animals, and that 49 per cent agree that children are increasingly a danger to each other and to adults. Forty-nine percent disagreed with the statement that children who get into trouble are often misunderstood and in need of professional help.
Martin Narey, chief executive of Barnardo's, said, 'It is appalling that words like "animal", "feral" and "vermin" are used daily in reference to children. The British public overestimates, by a factor of four, the amount of crime committed by young people.'
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