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 core change introduced by this bill is the amendment of Section 50 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. The bill replaces the current age of criminal responsibility, which is 10, with 12. This means children under 12 will not be subject to the criminal justice system. The bill applies only to England and Wales. The commencement date will be set by the Secretary of State via regulations.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending changes. However, raising the age of criminal responsibility may lead to increased costs associated with alternative support services for children under 12 who commit offenses, and potentially decreased spending on prosecution and detention of children aged 10 and 11.

Groups Affected

This bill will primarily affect:
• **Children aged 10 and 11:** They would no longer be subject to criminal prosecution.
• **The police and criminal justice system:** They would need to adapt their procedures and potentially utilize alternative methods of dealing with offending children under 12.
• **Social services and child welfare agencies:** They may experience an increase in the number of cases involving children under 12 who have engaged in antisocial behaviour.

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