childRIGHT In a Nutshell: Children's rights at the police station

At what age can children be convicted of an offence?

Children in England and Wales can be convicted of a criminal offence from the age of 10, and special rights and procedures apply to young people up to the age of 17.

Who can be an appropriate adult and what is his or her role?

All those aged up to 17 apprehended by the police and brought to the police station must be provided with an appropriate adult who is a responsible adult. Usually this will be a parent of the child. But if the parent is unable or unwilling to be present, the appropriate adult can be another adult, preferably someone who is known to the child. Increasingly, appropriate adults are being provided by specially trained groups of volunteers or workers. The child should trust the appropriate adult and the appropriate adult should be present to safeguard the welfare of the child while in police custody. The main concern of the appropriate adult should not be the guilt or innocence of the child, but the child's physical, mental and emotional welfare, including ensuring that the child is not mistreated or unfairly questioned by police.