Prosecution of Juveniles

Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Attorney-General – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 February 1996.

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Photo of Lady Olga Maitland Lady Olga Maitland , Sutton and Cheam 12:00, 19 February 1996

I thank my hon. and learned Friend for his reply. Is he aware that the Crown Prosecution youth service warmly welcomes my private Member's Bill dealing with offensive weapons—in particular, because it gives powers of arrest to police to stop and challenge teenage hooligans carrying knives? Is my hon. and learned Friend aware of a problem brought to light by the experience of the youth service—the fact that the prosecutions of a large number of 14-year-olds have to be discontinued because the CPS cannot prove that they know the difference between right and serious wrong?

Does my hon. and learned Friend further agree that it is extremely important to show our determination—