The effect will depend much on the agreed new minimum age, but it would affect only limited numbers of individuals, as few young children are currently dealt with through the formal justice system, thanks to the work of the Youth Justice Agency (YJA). If the MACR were to be raised to 12, for example, it would have affected a total of 63 children in 2022, as that was the number dealt with through the courts or diversionary measures. Only 12 of those cases were prosecuted at court, which is less than 1% of the number of children dealt with in that year.

Some may see that as a reason not to make a change, but, as well as meeting our international obligations, raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility would send out a clear message that young children who offend need support, guidance and help, not criminalisation and punishment. Were the MACR to be raised, it would be our intention to work with partners across other statutory, community and voluntary sectors to agree a framework through which children engaging in criminal or antisocial behaviour could receive multi-agency support in the community to address their behaviour and the underlying issues.

We know that contact, particularly early contact, with the justice system tends not to augur well for people's long-term life outcomes. The longer we can keep our young people out of the justice system and provide them with the support that they need, the better for everyone in society.