Arrests of children in Surrey has fallen by almost a third in four years, new figures from a penal reform charity reveal.

Surrey Police arrested 1,338 boys and girls aged 17 and under during 2015 – down from 1,974 arrests in 2011.

The Howard League for Penal Reform applauded the force for its work to keep children out of the criminal justice system.

The force pointed to the work of officers in its Community Safety Units who work with the Youth Support Service to help manage young people as one of the reasons for the falling arrest rate.

Surrey also operates a Youth Restorative Intervention Scheme through which options other than a criminal charge may be considered in cases where a young person admits committing an offence.

A Surrey Police spokesperson said: “We’re so pleased that our determination to keep as many children out of custody as possible is paying off.

“Prevention is always better than cure, but when offences are committed our approach is focused on helping young people to face the consequences of their actions, getting the best outcome for victims and restoring any harm done.

“Seeking to prevent future offences is always at the forefront of our decision making.”

The falling arrest rate of children in Surrey was part of a nationwide trend over the last few years.

Across England and Wales, there was a 58 per cent reduction of the number of children arrested over the last five years, according to the Howard League for Penal Reform.

Frances Crook, Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, said: “I applaud Surrey Police for their success in reducing child arrests.

"The Howard League is proud to have played its part in a significant change to the policing and life chances of children.

“It is particularly gratifying that, across England and Wales, the reduction in child arrests matches exactly the reduction in custody for children, and it is no coincidence.

"We have stemmed the flow of children into the justice system and the consequential downward spiral into crime and custody.”