223 over-70s arrested in Somerset during last 2 years

Friday, 6 November 2009 , Posted by Ed Allen at 08:02

The Avon and Somerset Police Force have, in the space of two years, arrested 200 men and 23 women aged over 70 for a variety of offences including theft, grievous bodily harm, loan sharking, possession of an automatic weapon and conspiracy to murder.

A spokesman for the Avon and Somerset police said: ''Anyone over the age of 10 may be accused of a criminal offence and may be bought before the court - there is no upper limit for someone committing crime.'' Since the figures released under the Freedom of Information Act only relate to 2007 and 2008 it is impossible to judge whether or not OAP crime is on the rise in the south-west of England.

A 99-year-old was the oldest person to be arrested, having allegedly committed house burglary and theft. There were several arrests for soliciting prostitutes, and motoring offences account for 57 of the arrests, mostly for drink-driving, with two for dangerous driving. Shoplifting accounted for 13 of the offences, with other criminal activity including fraud and money laundering.