Youth Offending
Debate between Baroness Levitt and Lord Empey(3 weeks ago)
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Baroness Levitt (Lab)
My Lords, we are tough on crime but we are smart on prevention. We are focusing on what works: protecting the public and preventing reoffending. It is well known that locking children up, particularly on short sentences, does not work. Some 60% of children who receive short sentences of custody go on to reoffend, whereas those who are diverted at an early stage do not re-enter the justice system and have better lives, which also prevents increasing cohorts of victims in future.
Lord Empey (UUP)
My Lords, does the Minister have any plans to amend the minimum age of criminal responsibility?
Baroness Levitt (Lab)
We have no plans. The Bar Council is conducting a review of this and we will, like any responsible Government, consider that review once it is reported and take matters from there.