ABSTRACT
Since biblical times, parents, priests and teachers have tried to teach children how to be good. To say you have a well-brought-up child is still a compliment in virtually all societies. At the start of the twentyfirst century, however, countries like Britain and the United States are having to grapple with the fact that children, whom we tend to idealise as innocent, are often involved not just in bad behaviour – breaking windows when playing football – but in serious crimes.
