At 10 years of age, we have one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility in the world and the lowest in Europe. Here are 10 reasons why 10 is too young.
At 10 years of age, we have one of the lowest ages of criminal responsibility in the world and the lowest in Europe. Despite repeated calls from the international children’s rights community and a large number of organisations working with children and young people here in Northern Ireland to raise the age, no progress has been made.
On 3rd October 2022 the Department of Justice issued a 12 week public consultation on increasing the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Northern Ireland from 10 years to 14 years.
In compliance with international children’s rights standards NIACRO, VOYPIC, Include Youth and the Children’s Law Centre are calling for the minimum age of criminal responsibility to be raised to 16 years, with no exceptions for serious or grave offences.
This briefing outlines the 10 reasons why we need to raise the age.
