Youth Justice

Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone Excerpts

Wednesday 20th May 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Levitt (Lab)]

It is for our independent judges to decide whether somebody is given bail or remanded. All that we are looking at is whether alternatives can be offered to the courts. At the moment, you tend to have a straightforward binary choice of bail back at home where half the problem started in the first place or remand into custody in one of these institutions that we know do not work for children and where there is a huge risk of reoffending once they are released. For the most serious offences, there is no question but that children will continue to be remanded into the custodial estate. But we want to be more imaginative about this, remembering that these are not tiny adults but children, and some of them come from very difficult circumstances.

[Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone (Con)]

My Lords, I commend the report. I am among those who would like to see the age of criminal responsibility increased—

[Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Lemos) (Lab)]

I am sorry, the debate has timed out.

[Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone (Con)]

I urge the Minister—

[Lord Lemos (Lab)]

The time is up, I am afraid.