Age of Criminal Responsibility Bill

This bill would change the age at which children can be prosecuted for crimes in England and Wales. Currently, children aged 10 and above can be charged with criminal offences. The bill would raise this minimum age, though the exact new age limit is not specified in the available information. Children below the new age limit would not face criminal charges or court proceedings. Instead, they would be dealt with through other support systems. The government says this change recognises that very young children should not be treated as criminals. Some argue that victims of serious crimes committed by young children need proper justice through the criminal system.

• 1Would raise the minimum age for criminal prosecution above the current age of 10
• 2Children below the new age limit could not be charged with crimes
• 3Young offenders would be handled through alternative support systems instead of courts
• 4Applies to England and Wales only
• 5Government says it better protects young children from criminalization