TALLINN — Despite a strict policy on releasing information on crime, especially minors, Estonia’s Southern Police Prefecture inexplicably released the photos of juvenile criminals to the media on Feb. 22.

Apparently their patience with a group of repeat juvenile offenders, whose names and ages are [private_supervisor]Vladislav, 12, Edgar, 13,  Emmanuil, 13, Pavel, 13, Sergei, 15 and Artur, 15 ran out. Edgar has been in trouble the police for already five years, Vladislav for four years.

The boys have been earning their pocket money by stealing wallets, mobile phones, handbags and anything useful left unguarded from shops, schools, kindergarten, sports buildings and other places. They usually commit couple of thefts per day.

The children have been detained before but all have been repeatedly released after the interrogation as according to law a person under 14 years old cannot be prosecuted.

According to Vallo Koppel, chief of criminal bureau of southern prefecture, the children use the law on their behalf and have the younger ones take the blame.

“Before the next theft, the boys probably agree that the younger group members ‘take the blame’ on all of the thefts,” Koppel told the press.

Koppel said that the boys have been sent to the minor justice commission, where they were sentenced to juvenile offender school. However, they escaped from the school and continued committing new thefts.

“A which’ circle,” said Koppel. “Notifying the people on possible threat is seen as the only option for now, therefore we send the photographs of those boys to the media.”

Marina Paddar, chairman of the Tartu juvenile justice committee, told the daily newspaper Postimees that that the photos were probably released as the patience of the Police broke.

“This move is exceptional when it comes to the minors, as generally juvenile justice cases are strictly confidential,” said Paddar.[/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]Vladislav, 12, Edgar, 13, Emmanuil, 13, Pavel, 13, Sergei, 15 and Artur, 15. Edgar has been in trouble the police for already five years, Vladislav for four years.

The boys have been earning their pocket money by stealing wallets, mobile phones, handbags and anything useful left unguarded from shops, schools, kindergarten, sports buildings and other places. They usually commit couple of thefts per day.

The children have been detained before but all have been repeatedly released after the interrogation as according to law a person under 14 years old cannot be prosecuted.

According to Vallo Koppel, chief of criminal bureau of southern prefecture, the children use the law on their behalf and have the younger ones take the blame.

“Before the next theft, the boys probably agree that the younger group members ‘take the blame’ on all of the thefts,” Koppel told the press.

Koppel said that the boys have been sent to the minor justice commission, where they were sentenced to juvenile offender school. However, they escaped from the school and continued committing new thefts.

“A which’ circle,” said Koppel. “Notifying the people on possible threat is seen as the only option for now, therefore we send the photographs of those boys to the media.”

Marina Paddar, chairman of the Tartu juvenile justice committee, told the daily newspaper Postimees that that the photos were probably released as the patience of the Police broke.

“This move is exceptional when it comes to the minors, as generally juvenile justice cases are strictly confidential,” said Paddar.[/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]Vladislav, 12, Edgar, 13, Emmanuil, 13, Pavel, 13, Sergei, 15 and Artur, 15. Edgar has been in trouble the police for already five years, Vladislav for four years.

The boys have been earning their pocket money by stealing wallets, mobile phones, handbags and anything useful left unguarded from shops, schools, kindergarten, sports buildings and other places. They usually commit couple of thefts per day.

The children have been detained before but all have been repeatedly released after the interrogation as according to law a person under 14 years old cannot be prosecuted.

According to Vallo Koppel, chief of criminal bureau of southern prefecture, the children use the law on their behalf and have the younger ones take the blame.

“Before the next theft, the boys probably agree that the younger group members ‘take the blame’ on all of the thefts,” Koppel told the press.

Koppel said that the boys have been sent to the minor justice commission, where they were sentenced to juvenile offender school. However, they escaped from the school and continued committing new thefts.

“A which’ circle,” said Koppel. “Notifying the people on possible threat is seen as the only option for now, therefore we send the photographs of those boys to the media.”

Marina Paddar, chairman of the Tartu juvenile justice committee, told the daily newspaper Postimees that that the photos were probably released as the patience of the Police broke.

“This move is exceptional when it comes to the minors, as generally juvenile justice cases are strictly confidential,” said Paddar.[/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]Vladislav, 12, Edgar, 13, Emmanuil, 13, Pavel, 13, Sergei, 15 and Artur, 15. Edgar has been in trouble the police for already five years, Vladislav for four years.

The boys have been earning their pocket money by stealing wallets, mobile phones, handbags and anything useful left unguarded from shops, schools, kindergarten, sports buildings and other places. They usually commit couple of thefts per day.

The children have been detained before but all have been repeatedly released after the interrogation as according to law a person under 14 years old cannot be prosecuted.

According to Vallo Koppel, chief of criminal bureau of southern prefecture, the children use the law on their behalf and have the younger ones take the blame.

“Before the next theft, the boys probably agree that the younger group members ‘take the blame’ on all of the thefts,” Koppel told the press.

Koppel said that the boys have been sent to the minor justice commission, where they were sentenced to juvenile offender school. However, they escaped from the school and continued committing new thefts.

“A which’ circle,” said Koppel. “Notifying the people on possible threat is seen as the only option for now, therefore we send the photographs of those boys to the media.”

Marina Paddar, chairman of the Tartu juvenile justice committee, told the daily newspaper Postimees that that the photos were probably released as the patience of the Police broke.

“This move is exceptional when it comes to the minors, as generally juvenile justice cases are strictly confidential,” said Paddar.[/private_subscription 1 year]

— This is a paid article. To subscribe or extend your subscription, click here.