§ 16. Mr. Temple-Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility.
§ Mr. JohnNo, Sir. It would, in my view, be a retrograde step to lower the present age of 10 years, fixed by the Children and Young Persons Act 1963, below which it is conclusively presumed in law that a child cannot be guilty of any offence.
§ Mr. Temple-MorrisIs the Minister aware that in the Metropolitan Police area alone during 1977, 675 under 10-yearolds were arrested for offences of violence and taking and driving away, apart from all other offences? What possible justification is there for treating a 9-year-old differently from a 10-year-old?
§ Mr. JohnThe younger the child the less he is presumed to know the consequences of his act. If a child under 10 years of age is in that position, care and control proceedings may be taken. I have not yet heard from those who advocate the lowering of the age of criminal responsibility to what age they would take their own limit. Would they imprison children of 5 and 6?
§ Mr. MolloyWill my hon. Friend be prepared to examine instances where it appears that children under the age of criminal responsibility are being manipulated by those who are above that age? A serious problem is being created for the police.
§ Mr. JohnThe police are dealing with that problem. If the children concerned are beyond parental control, they may be brought before the courts as in need of care and control.