Boy, 9, accused of rape

POLICE are powerless to act over the alleged rape of a five-year-old girl because the boy accused is aged nine.

The age of criminal responsibility under law is 10. Detectives in Brighton, East Sussex, said yesterday that they could not commence proceedings.

The girl was allegedly attacked by the boy while playing hide-and- seek at his home last December. Her mother said: 'The police were very sympathetic, but they said there was nothing more they could do.'

Police confirmed that they had investigated, and that the matter had now been referred to the social services.