HC Deb 08 May 2002 vol 385 cc222-3W
Mr. Wray

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the age of criminal responsibility. [52150]

Beverley Hughes

The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is 10. We need to nip early offending in the bud and reinforce young people's sense of personal responsibility for their behaviour. Timely intervention can make a difference and most young people of that age are mature enough to know the difference between right and wrong, to take responsibility for their behaviour and to cope with the operation of criminal law.

The Government's youth justice reforms ensure that young offenders receive appropriate interventions to make them understand and take responsibility for their offending behaviour, and are subject to programmes which directly tackle the causes of their offending.

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