The Children's Society, NSPCC, Save the Children, NCH, Barnardo's and crime reduction charity Nacro said the plan, announced by the Prime Minister last week, had major implications for civil liberties.
The Anti-social Behaviour Act allows fines of 40 to be imposed on 16- and 17-year-olds.
Powers in the Act allow Parliament to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 10.
Tony Blair said: "A lot of anti-social behaviour is caused by youngsters under the age of 16."
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
