HUNDREDS of protesters have marched through Manchester demanding a change to laws which allow the imprisonment through “guilt by association” when a crime is committed, even if they take no part.

Campaigners say that the laws are increasingly being used to target marginalised young people including from ethnic minority communities.

Manchester campaign group Kids of Colour says young people are being imprisoned because they are found guilty if they simply know or communicate with people who commit offences.

Saturday’s march and rally, under the banner “life sentences for text messages,” was organised by the group alongside grassroots organisation Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association (JENGba).

It comes after a jury at Manchester Crown Court on May 17 found four boys guilty of conspiracy to murder and six guilty of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm.

A Kids Of Colour campaign group statement said: “Evidence used against the boys in court included text messages, song lyrics, and expressions of grief following the death of their childhood friend.

“This is a heart-breaking case in which marginalised young people who should have been met with support and safety have instead been traumatised, criminalised, and imprisoned by the state.”

Protesters at the rally carried home-made placards saying “The system is racist,” “Resist police powers,” “Proven innocent — found guilty” and “Guilty by association.”

Roxy Legane, co-founder of Kids of Colour, said: “These boys have been found guilty by association. Their interests, emotions or friendships criminalised. And now they are in prison for violence they did not commit.”