Youth crime is on the rise in Chatham-Kent.
Chatham-Kent police say there was a 41.6% increase in the number of charged youth in 2017 and a 23% jump in the total number of charges laid against young people compared to 2016.
Constable Derek Shaw says officers laid 222 criminal charges against 125 youth last year -- mainly for assaults and breach of conditions offences.
Shaw says there are four or five repeat offenders who are responsible for multiple charges.
He says some of the young people have gone through diversion programs but continue down a road of crime.
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