GIRLS in Swindon are being accused of increasing numbers of serious crimes.

National figures released recently revealed that the number of crimes committed by young girls is growing rapidly.

A snap shot look at teenagers accused of crimes in Swindon has revealed that young girls here are increasingly getting involved in violence - and the town's police blame alcohol.

During just one morning at Swindon's Youth Court, on Friday, five young girls stood in the dock.

Although more boys appeared on the same day, they mainly faced charges of criminal damage, driving and public order offences.

The girls in court on the same day were accused of serious and violent crimes, including carrying weapons and assault.

A 16 year-old girl, of Stratton, was accused of possessing a knife in a public place.

A 12-year-old, from Penhill was accused of assaulting another youngster.

Another 12-year-old, this time from Marlborough, was accused of beating two victims during an incident in Penhill on November 2 last year.

A Highworth 17-year-old, already convicted of four counts of assault including assaulting two police officers, was ordered to return to court for breaking her punishment.

She was given a curfew for the assaults, but was accused of being absent from her home after she was due to have returned, seven times in seven days.

The only case involving a girl accused of a non-violent offence was a Penhill 12-year-old accused of stealing a £100 mobile phone.

Chief Supt Paul Howlett said: "The figures are not surprising to me, bearing in mind the population shift with a growing number of young girls within the population.

"In the town centre at the weekend, as in any town in the UK, we do see some evidence of binge drinking, which will of course include groups of females who are not necessarily always as well behaved as they might be.

"I suspect that alcohol could be a contributory factor in this and that is why the Community Safety Partnership has introduced an alcohol harm reduction strategy, that way we can stop problems before they get out of hand."

National figures published by the Youth Justice Board last week showed that girl crime has increased 25 per cent in three years.

The numbers showed females under the age of 18 were responsible for 59,236 crimes in 2006/7, compared to 47,358 in 2003/4.

Although boys are still behind the majority of youth crime the number of crimes committed by male youths dropped by two per cent during the same time period.