Stop criminalising kids - raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18
Raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18, to match the age when we can vote in elections.
Signatures
32
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 32/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 32/100,000
- 19 NOV 2025Petition closedFinal total: 32 signatures
- 19 MAY 2025Petition opened for signatures
Background
We think the criminalisation of children as young as 10 is a stain on our national life.
We think young children going to court, imprisoning them in Young Offenders institutions, sentencing them for along time for childhood acts, and naming and shaming in the media is wrong.
We feel children with criminal records are scarred for life.
You cannot vote until 18 so we think you should not be subject to criminal law until the same age.
Educate. Understand. Treat. Support. Release.