§ 14. Mr. Temple-Morrisasked the Secretary of the Home Department if he has any plans to alter the age of criminal responsibility.
§ Mr. Temple-MorrisIs the Minister fully aware of the considerable enforcement difficulties that the police have with the under-10s? Is he further aware that there is a very good example of the problem in that in 1977, in the Metropolitan Police area, no fewer than 675 under-10s were arrested for crimes of violence and, believe it or not, for taking and driving away motor vehicles? In contrast with the last Government, will this Government at least look into the matter and possibly do something about it?
§ Mr. BrittanI shall be happy to look into the matter. I am very conscious of the fact that, sadly, children under the age of 10 commit offences. My hon. Friend will also take account of the fact that, when a child under 10 is brought before the juvenile court on the ground that he is in moral danger or outside parental control, the court may make the appropriate order and a care order, and that if a prosecution were brought in relation to a similar series of events the consequences and outcome would in most cases be broadly similar.
§ Mr. George CunninghamWill the Minister bear in mind that Parliament took a decision in 1969 that the age of criminal responsibility should progressively rise to 14? Whatever might or might not be done about that, may we, in the light of the original question, have an assurance that there is no question of 642 the Government's initiating any proposal to reduce the age of criminal responsibility from what it is now?
§ Mr. BrittanI do not think that I can usefully add to the answer I have already given on that very point.