Backing for age of criminal responsibility being raised to 12

Holyrood’s Equalities and Human Rights Committee is unanimously backing the general principles of a Bill that will raise the minimum age at which a young person can be held criminally responsible to 12. Currently, that age is eight.

The proposals, brought forward by the Scottish Government, would lift Scotland from having the lowest age of criminal responsibility in Europe, and bring the age of criminal responsibility into line with the minimum age of prosecution. Further, raising the age to 12 ensures Scotland will comply with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

You can read the Committee’s media release and report here.