Croydon’s youngest criminal is just five years old.

The child was reported for criminal damage in Croydon last year, but no further action was taken.

The startling incident came to light as a Freedom of Information request by the Croydon Guardian revealed the borough’s youngest criminals.

Children as young as nine have been accused of stealing cars, in 2006 and 2007, while a 12-year-old was arrested for possession of drugs in 2008. And two 14-year-olds were charged with drug dealing in Croydon and Thornton Heath last year.

The most shocking aspect, though, is the age of children caught committing criminal damage.

As well as the five-year-old, in 2006 police received reports of four seven-year-olds committing offences. In 2007 they told of another two more and this year another two seven-year-olds were reported for criminal damage.

In the case of the nine-year-old in 2007, he was with four other suspects, according to the spokesman, but was never arrested and there was no evidence to suggest he was involved in the theft the others were accused of.

Chief Inspector Parm Sandhu, Croydon Safer Neighbourhoods, said: “Croydon police are involved in a number of schemes aimed at diverting young people from crime and into positive activities.

“We work with partners, including Croydon Council, schools, and youth organisations and deal with issues as diverse as how to contact police, knife crime and what policing issues young people are most concerned about.

“Croydon has one of the largest school communities in London and our safer schools officers and safer neighbourhoods teams work closely and proactively with schools on the borough.

“Projects such as Kickz show the kind of work going on across the borough to keep young people from becoming involved with crime.

“The vast majority of young people in the borough are not involved in criminal activity and we are determined to keep it that way.”

• Get the latest crime figures in our Local Information section