Children under 12 ‘can’t be criminals’
Source: Timesonline >> Read full article and comment
Rachel Sylvester, Alice Thomson, Rosemary Bennett
The killers of James Bulger should not have been prosecuted for his murder, the new Children’s Commissioner says today in a call for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised from 10 to 12 years old.
In an exclusive interview withThe Times, Maggie Atkinson argues that children under the age of 12 should not be prosecuted for any crime.
Dr Atkinson, who was appointed by the Government last autumn, said that a civilised society should recognise that children who commit offences should be treated differently from adult criminals.
She makes her call for a change in the law in her interview, her first since taking on the role. Coming at such a sensitive time, it is likely to reignite the debate on the age of criminal responsibility and anger the relatives of victims who believe that young children know the difference between right and wrong.
“The age of criminal responsibility in this country is ten — that’s too low, it should certainly be moved up to 12; in some European countries it is 14. Even the most hardened of youngsters who have committed some very difficult crimes are not beyond being frightened,” Dr Atkinson said.
“In terms of knowing what the full consequences of your actions are, you are into older childhood or adolescence.”
Denise Fergus, the mother of James Bulger, met Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, this week.
But Dr Atkinson warned politicians not to be so influenced by the views of victims’ relatives…. Continue reading
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