§ 18. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, arising from a recent case in which a charge of murder against a child of eight years of age was not proceeded with, he will introduce legislation raising the age at which children may be prosecuted on a criminal charge.
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeNo, Sir. This question was carefully considered by the Young Offenders Committee in 1927, and I am not aware of any sufficient ground for a change in the law.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs the Home Secretary aware that nearly all civilised countries refuse to brand children below the age of 14 as criminals and, as it is a long time since 1927, can he give an assurance that this solemn farce of putting a child of eight years of age on a charge of murder will not be repeated?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI think that it is most important that it should be left to the discretion of the police to institute proceedings and take steps for the protection of the public, and that this right of theirs should not be interfered with.
§ Mr. LeghWould the Home Secretary not agree that a child of eight, provided that he is neither a lunatic nor a mental defective, is perfectly capable of appreciating that the taking of human life is both morally wicked and against the law of the country?
§ Mr. K. RobinsonWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman answer the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's supplementary question? Is it not a fact that the age of criminal responsibility in this country is lower than in almost any other country in the world?
§ Sir D. Maxwell FyfeI have not all the figures in mind, but even if they are accurate, I still think that this is a matter which should be left to the local prosecuting authority.