10
There was submitted a report by the Director of Children's Services relative to the Age of Criminal Responsibility Act which received Royal Assent on 11 June 2019.
The report intimated that the Act had been implemented on an incremental basis, the next stage of which would increase the age of criminal responsibility in Scotland from 8 to 12 which aligned with the minimum age of criminal prosecution in Scotland. The target date for implementation was autumn 2021, and would mean that children under 12 would no longer be charged with criminal offences, would no longer be stigmatised by being criminalised at a young age, labelled as an 'offender' or disadvantaged by having convictions for the purposes of disclosure which could adversely affect them later in life. It was noted that the number of children under the age of 12 so charged in Renfrewshire had been low historically with approximately 20 children being charged each year with criminal offences. It was noted that staff training and multi-agency professional guidance would be undertaken to support the change in legislation and practise.
DECIDED:
(a) That it be noted that the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act 2019 received Royal Assent on 11 June 2019;
(b) That it be noted that since 29 November 2019 children under the age of 12 could no longer be referred to a children's hearing on offence grounds;
(c) That it be noted that the age of criminal responsibility would increase from 8 to 12 in the autumn of 2021; and
(d) That it be noted that multi-agency professional guidance and training would be provided to assist staff in discharging the change in practise.