Figures released by the Youth Justice Board showed a total of 3,359 children aged between 10 and 17 were handed police sanctions during 2006/07, with 749 of these given to young girls.

A dozen 10-year-olds committed violence against another person, while eight were convicted of criminal damage.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said children only entered the court system when informal action had failed to stop criminal behaviour.

"Having young people in the criminal justice system at the age of 10 is highly unusual," the spokesman said.

"Most children of pre-teen age come to our attention because of petty thefts and can be dealt with in many ways, often through an informal action, a reprimand or formal warning. In none of these instances do children receive a criminal record.

"In some cases children continue to commit crimes, despite the hard work of the youth offending team and other agencies involved in trying to prevent children from committing crimes.

"It is at this point that children enter the courts system."

Northamptonshire Victim Support manager Glynis Bliss said youth crime could have a devastating effect on its victims, who were usually other children.

She said: "It is not really a surprise that so many young girls are involved in crime because, as a society, we are now becoming more aware that when groups of young girls get together they act in a manner we would normally expect of young boys.

"Young victims of crime can be devastated if it has been carried out by a member of their peer group."

Councillor Joan Kirkbride (Con, Bugbrooke), Northamptonshire County Council's cabinet member for children and young people, added: "It is disturbing that so many young girls are getting involved in crime.

"We need to tackle binge drinking, which we know is growing among girls and often leads to crime.

"It's encouraging that overall youth crime has dropped, and we have improved our provisions for youth in the county, but we want to engage with them to make sure we can give them the facilities they want."