Overview

This bill proposes to increase the age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales from 10 to 12 years old. This means that children under the age of 12 would no longer be held criminally liable for their actions.

Description

The primary change introduced by this bill is the amendment of Section 50 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. This section currently defines the age of criminal responsibility as 10 years old. The bill seeks to replace "ten" with "twelve," thus raising the age at which a child can be prosecuted for a crime.

The bill also includes clauses detailing its short title (Age of Criminal Responsibility Act 2013), its commencement date (to be determined by the Secretary of State), and its geographical extent (England and Wales only).

Government Spending

The bill does not directly specify any changes to government spending. However, raising the age of criminal responsibility could indirectly impact spending on youth justice services, potentially reducing expenditure on prosecutions and detention of younger children while possibly increasing investment in alternative support systems.

Groups Affected

The bill will primarily affect:

• Children aged 10-11: They would no longer be subject to criminal prosecution for offences committed.
• Law enforcement agencies: Changes will be required to their procedures for dealing with children under 12 years old.
• The youth justice system: This system will experience a shift in the age range of individuals it handles, and could necessitate alterations in its processes and resources.
• Children's social services: May see an increase in referrals for children aged 10-11 involved in anti-social behaviour, requiring alternative support strategies.

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