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

Key Changes

The bill amends Section 50 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. The amendment replaces the current age of criminal responsibility, 10 years, with 12 years. This means children under 12 will no longer be subject to criminal proceedings.

Geographic Scope and Commencement

The bill applies only to England and Wales. The commencement date will be set by the Secretary of State via statutory instrument.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly specify any changes to government spending. However, there may be implications for the justice system, including potential costs associated with diverting resources towards alternative methods of dealing with the behaviour of children aged 10-12.

Groups Affected

This bill will primarily affect:
• Children aged 10 and 11: They will no longer be subject to the criminal justice system.
• The police and criminal justice system: They will need to adapt their procedures for dealing with children aged 10-11, potentially focusing on diversionary schemes rather than criminal prosecution.
• Victims of crime: The bill may have implications for how they access justice when the perpetrator is a child aged 10-11. This aspect would require additional legislative support and is not covered in the proposed bill itself.

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