A police commissioner says authorities did not investigate a 10-year-old boy due to him miss-spelling ‘terraced’ with ‘terrorist’ contrary to claims by the family and the council of mosques.

Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner the story had ‘created an unnecessary situation and is damaging community relations and confidence at the very least.’ But the statement by the does not explain why police took away a laptop away from the home.

Police Commissioner Clive Grunshaw released a statement this week stating, “The facts are that a young person disclosed a worrying issue in his school work – not just that he lived in a “terrorist house” – and this was reported through the appropriate channels and subsequently a visit was undertaken by a neighbourhood police officer and a social worker.”

It is believed the investigation was not part of the Prevent Programme.

“The media needs to take more responsibility when sensationalising issues to make stories much bigger than they are and to realise the impact they can have on local communities.

“The level of debate about this story today is not warranted given the facts and misrepresents the role of all the agencies involved.”

This week it was also revealed more than 1,800 children have been referred to a de-radicalisation programme over the last four years.

Some 415 children aged 10 and under and 1,424 aged 11 to 15 in England and Wales were referred to the Channel scheme, figures obtained by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) show.

Speaking on the announcement Abdul Hamid Qureshi chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques said: "I am not impressed by what the county council and the police had to say about the case of this boy who was only 10-years-old.

"Referring so many young children nationwide to this programme will just make things difficult for everybody.

"I am all in favour of vigilance but this is not the way to deal with this issue."

The father of the boy who wished only to be known as Mohammed, said this week "This was clearly a mistake. My son meant 'terraced' and had been asked to be creative.

"He has never been hit by his uncle and the school know he lives with his parents. This was heavy-handed. What was needed was common sense.

"I want a written apology from the teacher and the head and for them to go into a full assembly and explain a mistake was made.

"My son went to school, did this piece of work and came home sick. He was in bed with flu.

"When I came home I found him with a police officer and a social worker. I was shocked.

"The police officer took his laptop and the officer came back 45 minutes later and said everything was all right.”