New Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility Advisory Group

Date: 8th December 2015
Category: Age of criminal responsibility

Together's Director has joined an advisory group set up by the Scottish Government to consider the policy, legislative and procedural implications of raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 8 to 12.

The current age of criminal responsibility in Scotland in one of the lowest in Europe and has been highlighted as an issue of concern by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child on numerous occasions. The Scottish Government first committed to review this in 2009 in the 'Do the Right Thing' action plan. The group will produce a report by February 2016 which will form the basis of proposals for wider consultation.

The first meeting of the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility Advisory Group was held on Monday 16 November 2015.

The Advisory Group has agreed its Terms of Reference, membership and 4 workstreams. The workstream themes are:

- Police investigatory powers and forensic sampling
- Children's Hearings system
- Disclosure including police weeding & retention and victims issues
- Risk Management

Further meetings of the Advisory Group are scheduled for:

- Wednesday 16 December 2015
- Wednesday 13 January 2016
- Thursday 11 February 2016

• Find out more about the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility Advisory Group here.