The two boys responsible for killing James Bulger were truanting from school that day. There were problems with them well before this tragedy happened and Jon had missed registration (normally twice a day) 50 times out of 140 that term. This was being followed up and maybe if it had been followed up more quickly this particular tragedy may not have happened.

It isn't right for a child to be treated in an adult hospital ward, it isn't right for a child to be imprisoned in an adult prison and it isn't right for a child be tried as an adult.

However, when children have the problems that these two boys appear to have had then the authorities need be absolutely sure before they eventually release them, otherwise they are not doing anybody any favours.