NO - Paul Cavadino, chief executive, Nacro
Reducing the age of criminal responsibility would not reduce crimes by young people. Instead we need more junior youth inclusion programmes working with children at risk of offending. These programmes involve children in constructive activities. England and Wales's age of criminal responsibility is already low by European standards. It should be raised to at least 14. In France, the age is 13 and in the rest of Europe it ranges between 14 and 18. This does not mean other countries ignore serious crimes by younger children. Instead, they deal with them in family proceedings courts that impose compulsory supervision and care.
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