A media report said on Monday that a five-year-old boy and two six-year-olds were amongst the 12 children apprehended by New Zealand police for sexual assault last year.

Citing privacy issues, police did not give details.

New Zealand Herald reported that the boys were among 716 children who were less than nine-years-old who were reprimanded in 2008-09 for offences ranging from unlawfully taking a bicycle and possession of cannabis to threatening to kill and assault with a weapon.

He was shocked on learning about children who committed offences, said Superintendent Bill Harrison, national manager of police youth services.

The children who were apprehended included a four-year-old girl, two five-year-old girls and five five-year-old boys.

They were reprimanded for dishonesty offences such as shoplifting, burglary or theft valued under $500.

Children who committed crimes generally modelled their behaviour on that of their parents, said Ian Lambie, an associate professor.

Lambie was quoted as saying, "High levels of aggression when very young are usually due to the family environment. If parents are violent, involved in alcohol or drug abuse or have psychiatric problems their children are more likely to act out." (With Input from Agencies)