Britons think children are "animals"

LONDON (Reuters) - More than 50 percent of Britons think the country's children are beginning to behave like animals and many believe they are increasingly a danger to adults and each other, according to a poll released on Monday.

A report by charity Barnardo's, which commissioned the survey, said the findings were shocking and showed a disturbing intolerance of children.

"It is appalling that words like 'animal', 'feral' and 'vermin' are used daily in reference to children," said Martin Narey, Barnardo's chief executive.

"These are not references to a small minority of children but represent the public view of all children."

Concern about children's behaviour has become an increasingly political issue in recent years following incidents of youngsters' involvement in violent crime or anti-social behaviour.

In one of the most shocking cases, three teenagers were found guilty in January of murdering Garry Newlove, a father-of-three, whom they beat to death after he confronted them outside his house about vandalism they had caused.

Meanwhile, the number of teenagers being murdered, or committing murder has risen, with 28 young people dying violently on the streets of London alone this year.

The Barnardo's survey found 49 percent of the 2,021 people surveyed thought children now posed more of a danger to their peers and to adults with 43 percent saying something had to be done to protect them from youngsters.

The poll showed 54 percent thought children were beginning to behave like animals and 45 percent agreed that people referred to kids as feral because they behaved that way.