Lords pass Lib Dem law to raise age of criminal responsibility
Wednesday, 12 June 2019 16:21
Today, the Liberal Democrat bill to raise the age of criminal
responsibility has passed in the House of Lords. The Bill,
introduced by the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in
the House of Lords Navnit Dholakia, will amend the age of
criminal responsibility in the Children and Young Persons Act
1933 from ten to twelve. The UN Committee on the Rights of the
Child, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Law Society,
the Children’s Commissioners, the Royal Society,...Request free trial
Today, the Liberal Democrat bill to raise the age of criminal
responsibility has passed in the House of Lords.
The Bill, introduced by the Deputy Leader of the Liberal
Democrats in the House of Lords Navnit Dholakia, will
amend the age of criminal responsibility in the Children and
Young Persons Act 1933 from ten to twelve.
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Equality and Human
Rights Commission, the Law Society, the Children’s Commissioners,
the Royal Society, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the All
Party Parliamentary Group for Children have all called for the age
of criminal responsibility to be raised.
Commenting on the passing of his Bill, Navnit Dholakia
said:
“I am delighted to see my bill, which will raise the age of
criminal responsibility from 10 to 12, pass in the House of Lords
today. This draconian provision was last amended over 50 years ago
and is completely out of touch with modern society.
“The UK’s age of criminal responsibility is the lowest in Europe
and the United Nations has repeatedly stated our current age of
criminal responsibility is not compatible with the UN Convention on
the Rights of the Child.
“Taking 10 or 11 years-olds out of the adult justice system does
not mean failing to act when they offend, it simply means treating
them as children when they do. This may be a simple reform, but it
will change the shape of our criminal justice system going
forward."
Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson MP said:
“Our criminal justice system must have a child-centred approach
when dealing with young offenders – we need reform urgently.
“It is vital children are not given life-altering sentences at such
a young age as well as being exposed to the detrimental impact of
detention. The Liberal Democrats strongly believe in raising the
age of criminal responsibility to bring the UK’s justice system in
line with modern society and I look forward to supporting this
Bill’s passage in the House of Commons.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The Bill can be found here.
According to the Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology,
“research shows that 10-year-old children are immature in terms of
moral and brain development”, and “criminalising children adversely
affects their future prospects and makes them more likely to
reoffend as adults”.
https://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/POST-PN-0577
|
