Overview

This bill proposes to raise 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 the Age of Criminal Responsibility 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. The bill seeks to replace "ten" with "twelve," effectively raising the age at which a child can be prosecuted for a crime.

Geographic Scope and Commencement

The bill applies only to England and Wales. The exact date of implementation will be determined and announced by the Secretary of State via statutory instrument.

Government Spending

The bill does not explicitly state the associated government spending. The potential impact on government spending is likely to be indirect, potentially including increased costs associated with alternative youth justice interventions and support services for children under 12 who previously may have been subject to the criminal justice system.

Groups Affected

This bill will primarily affect:

• Children aged 10-11: They will no longer be subject to criminal prosecution.
• Families of children aged 10-11: The removal of criminal charges may lead to changes in how these families are supported.
• The Police and the Youth Justice System: These bodies will need to adapt their procedures and practices to accommodate the change in the age of criminal responsibility.
• Victims of crime: This bill may impact how crimes committed by 10-11 year olds are addressed, possibly leading to a focus on alternative restorative justice measures.

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