Age of Criminal Responsibility Bill passed

Date: 17th May 2019
Category: Age of criminal responsibility

---

MSPs have voted to pass the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill. The Bill raises the minimum age at which a child can be held criminally accountable from eight years (the lowest in Europe) to 12. However, it falls short of international recommendations that the minimum age should be at least 14 years. 

• Read Scottish Government’s press release here.

Together has consistently called for the Bill to reflect the higher age of 14. This would bring Scots law in line with updated guidance from the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

• Read Together’s previous response here.
• Read the draft updated guidance from the UN Committee here.

International experts have also called on Scotland to increase the age to at least 14. These include the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights and Professor Ann Skelton of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

• Read the Commissioner’s letter from 6th December 2018
• Read the Commissioner’s letter from 10th January 2019

While increasing the minimum age from eight to 12 years is a welcome first step, Together will continue its calls for the minimum age to be increased to at least 14 years in line with international standards.