Age of Criminal Responsibility

Lord Burnett of Maldon Excerpts

Wednesday 21st January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Levitt (Lab)]

I reiterate that we are moving in the right direction. Not only is the number of children sentenced aged between 10 and 14 going down, but in 2024, of the 1,687 sentences passed on 10 to 14 year-olds, only 23 resulted in custody—again, a consistent trend reduction. I am, of course, always delighted to meet with anybody who wishes to discuss these matters, but the Government are content that this is the correct way of dealing with things.

[Lord Burnett of Maldon (CB)]

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Meston, indicated that Scotland raised the age to 12 and the noble Lord, Lord Marks, referred to the age of criminal responsibility in most of Europe, which is a good deal higher than in England and Wales. Your Lordships might be surprised to know that in Russia it is 16, save for very serious offences, for which it is 14; and in China it is 16, save for very serious offences. Are the Government at least able to commit to look at the evidence and consider whether the time has come to raise the age of criminal responsibility?

[Baroness Levitt (Lab)]

The Government are always concerned about the position of children and keep all these matters constantly under review.