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Just because teenagers commit most street crime adults should not assume all young people are criminals, says 14-year-old Ellen Rickford.

Children may be responsible for a large percentage of street crime, shoplifting, and vandalism statistics. But not all of us do it, and we shouldn’t be treated as if we were criminals. If you are a boy, between the ages of 13 and 19, walking the streets late at night, whether in a big group, a small group or on your own, you might be stopped and searched by a police officer simply because you "fit the profile". A 14-year-old male friend of mine was taken to a police cell and strip-searched with no relevant adult either present or informed, simply because the friend he was with at the time was caught smoking marijuana. It’s just as bad if you’re a teenage girl – walking into a shop you feel the watchful eyes on you. Recently, my friend and I, both 14, were asked to leave our local chemist because we had been there before already that day, when we had both bought products. That chemist has now lost two good customers, as, along with many others of our age, we spend a lot on make-up, toiletries etc.

And it doesn’t stop at people’s stereotypical views either. Teenagers are often made to feel that they are less important than adults everywhere they go. For example, my friend and I were waiting for a bus a few weeks ago. The first one that came filled up before we got to it, but by the time a second one came along we were right at the front of the queue. Relieved to finally be heading home we climbed on, but the bus conductor instructed us to wait just below the stairs. When all the commuters coming home from work had got onto the bus he turned to us and said "sorry kids, bus’s full". When we objected he simply replied "this bus isn’t going anywhere until you get off." So, embarrassed and angry we returned to the back of the queue and had to wait half an hour for the next bus.

I’m not, of course, saying that all adults are like this, although you might be amazed that no one in that bus or in that shop backed us up! All I’m asking is that next time you see a teenager being searched or told to leave a shop don’t shake your head and tut because it’s possible that they are just as innocent as you are.