This idea has been created by the Scrutinise team as a historical case study. It represents real legislation that reached the statute book through civil society advocacy. It is presented here to show how that process might have looked on Scrutinise.
Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2021
Raised the age of criminal responsibility in Scotland from 8 to 12, making Scotland the first UK nation to meet the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child minimum recommendation. The Howard League Scotland and Just Deuteronomy campaigned for this reform for over a decade.
Summary
Raised the age of criminal responsibility in Scotland from 8 to 12, making Scotland the first UK nation to meet the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child minimum recommendation. The Howard League Scotland and Just Deuteronomy campaigned for this reform for over a decade.
Challenge (summary)
Scotland had the lowest age of criminal responsibility in Europe at 8 years old, directly at odds with child development evidence and international children's rights standards.
Approach (summary)
Raise the minimum age and create a Children's Hearings System response for children under 12 who commit acts that would otherwise be criminal — treating them as children in need of support rather than offenders.
First step (summary)
Introduce primary legislation through the Scottish Parliament raising the age to 12, accompanied by increased investment in early intervention and the Children's Hearings System.