Scores of children aged under eight - including a number of under fives - have been caught committing crimes in Scotland, according to figures published for the first time by The Herald.

Data supplied by police forces under the Freedom of Information Act reveals that 132 children, including one just two years old, were involved in cases last year ranging from fire-raising and theft to possession of drugs, vandalism, and breach of the peace.

Since three forces - Lothian and Borders, Fife, and Tayside - were unable to supply data, the annual total is likely to exceed 200 cases.

Academics and children's charities described the figures as "remarkable". The scale of the problem will provoke debate on the need to tackle crime at an even earlier stage than was previously thought necessary. It will also highlight concerns about the quality of parenting and supervision available to some young people.

Although the age of criminal responsibility is eight years, police have to record crimes, even when they are committed by younger children. Many will then be reported to the Scottish Children's Reporter Administration for their own care and protection. Officers believe there is a link between those appearing before the children's panel at an early age who later go on to be convicted of crimes.

In the latest figures, the youngest offender, aged just two, was caught in Strathclyde for an unspecified offence. Elsewhere, pre-school children aged three and four were recorded taking part in vandalism, including an incident involving a pair of three-year-olds throwing stones at a car.

Other offences were more serious - one child caught by Strathclyde officers committing serious assault and another in Grampian involved in racially aggravated conduct.

The statistics, which relate to the 12 months from April 2006 to March 2007, reveal that across Strathclyde there were 48 children aged seven and younger whose crimes were detected or cleared up by police.

One involved serious assault, eight were for theft, and 33 were for fire-raising and vandalism. The others included possession of drugs, petty assault and breach of the peace.

In Grampian, five children were recorded for committing offences ranging from petty assault, breach of the peace, culpable and reckless conduct (not firearms), racially aggravated conduct, and lewd and libidinous practices.

In Dumfries and Galloway, one seven-year-old was caught for theft and one for reckless conduct, while four six-year-olds, two five-year-olds, and two four-year-olds were caught committing vandalism. In Northern, 32 children aged seven and under were recorded for offences, including two three-year-olds and a four-year-old. Almost all were involved in vandalism and malicious mischief. In Central, 37 children were detected. Of these, one was aged three, three aged four, three aged five, six aged six, and 24 aged seven. Most were caught over vandalism.

Commentators also believe more pre-school children are being reported as a result of a growing intolerance among adults, created in part by punitive measures such as the 2004 Antisocial Behaviour Act.

Bill Whyte, professor of social work studies at Edinburgh University, said: "The real issue is what the police do about it once they have caught them. If these children are struggling at school and behaving badly at home, it means they and their family may need help but the question is why they are not receiving it."

Maggie Mellon, chief executive of Children 1st, said: "There is an age of criminal responsibility for a reason. To think that children under the age of eight could have any understanding of what crime means is absolutely ridiculous. If a toddler bites another toddler, that is childish behaviour, not a criminal act.

"What we know from the research for sure is that those we label young will definitely be more likely to stay in the system. I think the level is out of date and should be raised to 12."