DRUG trafficking, rape and physical assaults were just some of the crimes our young people were accused of committing last year.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act reveal youngsters aged from 10 to 17 were charged with more than 500 crimes in Bromley in the 12 months to March.

On average, this is more than 10 alleged offences every single week in the borough.

One youngster was accused of rape, while police also recorded another two sexual offences.

There were two charges of drug trafficking, while a further 25 juveniles were charged with possessing illegal drugs.

Claire Goulding is director of young people's services at national drug treatment and education service KCA, which runs the Bromley Young Person's Alcohol and Substance Service.

The 40-year-old admits although the statistics show fewer people are abusing drugs and falling into crime, the number using the organisation in Bromley is going up.

She said: "Young people are using softer drugs such as cannabis and alcohol, sometimes Ecstasy and very rarely cocaine.

"They are not committing crimes to support their drug addiction.

"They get hold of whatever is cheap, which is likely to be cannabis or alcohol."

However, Mrs Goulding admits these drugs often make young people lose their inhibitions - which can sometimes lead them to break the law in other ways.

She added: "We find a lot of children get into drugs because they don't understand enough about them."

The figures from the Metropolitan Police highlight three incidents of young people carrying knives and other weapons and eight more involving weapons being used to attack another person.

However, topping the list of offences was criminal damage to motor vehicles at 116, followed by robbery of personal property with 65 and theft from shops at 64.

Incidents of car vandalism more than doubled from the 49 recorded in the previous year.

According to the figures, the total figure of 526 major and minor crimes was down on the 591 crimes recorded during the previous year.

The age group accused of committing most offences was 15-year-olds, with 145, while 138 incidents involved youths aged 17.

Three 11-year-old youths were charged by police with committing offences last year.

Mrs Goulding said: "When we are talking about drugs and crime, I think 15 is the age when they start experimenting in many different ways.

"Whether this is with cannabis, alcohol, shoplifting or even sexual experiences, it is the age when adolescence and experimentation starts for many young people.

"Unfortunately, it's when children start to end up in our programmes, in A&E and in the courts."

Bromley police borough commander Chief Superintendent Charles Griggs says the figures show the vast majority of young people in the borough stay out of trouble.

He said: "It is important to remember most young people in Bromley will never come into contact with the police, and these figures reinforce that.

"However, we constantly read in the national newspapers about that awful minority of young people who are anti-social and disruptive, yet forget the fantastic majority who are the future of our society."