Archive · 25 Nov 2025
UK's Age of Criminal Responsibility Debated
In the UK, children as young as 10 can be held responsible for crimes.
This is much lower than in many other countries.
Some people think this age is too young because children's brains are still developing.
The United Nations suggests that the age should be at least 12.
In Scotland, the age was raised to 12 in 2019.
Sweden is planning to lower its age from 15 to 14 because of crimes involving young people.
In England and Wales, children who commit crimes are usually dealt with in special youth courts, which focus on rehabilitation.
The age of criminal responsibility in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland is 10 years old.
Scotland raised its age of criminal responsibility to 12 in 2019.
The United Nations recommends a minimum age of 12, with 14 being the most common worldwide.
Children aged 10-17 in England and Wales can be arrested and taken to court but are treated differently from adults.
Over 7,000 children aged 10-14 were tried at crown courts in England and Wales between 1995 and 2020.
- Who
- Children aged 10 and above in the UK can be held criminally responsible
- What
- The age of criminal responsibility in the UK is being debated
- When
- The law has been in place since 1963, with Scotland raising it to 12 in 2019
- Where
- England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland
- Why
- Concerns about brain development and comparisons with other countries
- Age of Criminal Responsibility (England, Wales, Northern Ireland)
- 10 years
- Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland)
- 12 years
- Age of Criminal Responsibility (Portugal)
- 16 years
- Age of Criminal Responsibility (Sweden)
- 15 years (planned to lower to 14)
- UN Recommended Minimum Age
- 12 years
- Most Common Age Worldwide
- 14 years
- UK Crown Court Trials (10-14 years old, 1995-2020)
- Over 7,000