Dealing with Child Crime

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, a child can be held accountable for a criminal offence from the age of 10. In Scotland, however, the age is currently 8 but is soon to be raised 12 years old.
Criminal Proceedings
Depending on the nature of the crime, there are several ways in which a child can be dealt with (see below). But if the crime involves bodily harm to another or indeed death, the crime is prosecutable in the same manner as it would be for an adult.In recent years, there have been criminal proceedings brought against children who have accidentally – or purposefully – murdered other children, and under these conditions a trial and subsequent sentence in relation to that of an adult has taken place.
It is important to take into account how the law sees children and at what age the law determines that a child is responsible for his or her own actions.
Anti-Social Behaviour Offences
If a child is found to have committed an offence that constitutes an anti-social behaviour offence, he or she may find that they are issued with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO).Such an order is issued by a magistrate if there is sufficient evidence to suggest that the child may commit a similar offence, and therefore steps must be taken to reduce the likelihood of this being the case.
What Constitutes an Anti-Social Behaviour Offence?
An Anti-Social Behaviour Offence can be any one of the following:- Bullying
- Vandalism
- Joy Riding
- Racial Abuse
- Sexual Impropriety
- Theft
- Causing an Affray
- Under-age Drinking
- Graffiti
- Mugging
- Burglary
Of course, this is not a definitive list but it does aim to show those offences which are most often committed by children and minors who are detained by police.
Other Offences
If a child or minor commits an offence not listed among those already mentioned, he or she may be liable to a custodial sentence in a Young Offenders Centre.A Young Offenders Centre is the juvenile equivalent to adult prison and any child or teenager held in such a centre may find that they are removed to an adult prison once they have reached the age of 18.
ASBOs and ABCs
Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts (ABCs) are issued to those children or minors who are prosecutable but are likely to be placed under supervision of their local Youth Offending Team.An Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) will be issued informally by the police and will be signed by the individual responsible, who will be given the opportunity to remain out of trouble for a set period before the Acceptable Behaviour Contract is removed.
If all efforts fail to curb the anti-social behaviour of the child, he or she will be taken before a magistrate and an Anti-Social Behaviour order (ASBO) will be issued. This is a legal commitment to be bound over and any breach can result in a custodial sentence in either a Young Offenders Centre or an adult prison – depending entirely on the age of the individual involved.
You can find out more about Anti-Social Behaviour Orders and Acceptable Behaviour Contracts from your local authority, Youth Offending Team or Community Police Officer.
Re: Regulations On The Home Schooling Of Your Child
Hi i would like to know what i need to do to take my child out of school? I don't want to move her to…
Re: Understanding Residence Orders
Me and my husband has joint residence order on our grandson. But January of this year he left us. So now am on my own with him.…
Re: Your Rights as a Grandparent
I have overnight access to my grandson, who has severe Epilepsy. His mother will not tell me the name and dosage of the medication…
Re: Should we Still Pay Maintenance?
Hi My partner currently pays maintenance for his 18 year old daughter, she will turn 19 in May, she has said she intends to…
Re: Child Abandonment and the Law
My Son, his American wife and daughter moved back to England in May 2021. They lived with us but after five months my Daughter in…
Re: Can I Stop my Children Meeting my Husbands' Partner?
Add this love spell caster on WhatsApp +2348054681416 he did a love spell that ruturn my husband…
Re: What Rights do I Have as a Grandparent?
So grateful to find this page. My daughter moved to 270 miles away after meeting a guy on line, my granddhild was…
Re: Should we Still Pay Maintenance?
My partner’s daughter left school after GCSE’s and got a job. She has subsequently left this role after 6 months. She is…
Re: Regulations On The Home Schooling Of Your Child
My children are preschoolers and we are fairly certain we are going to home school them. I have built up…
Re: Should we Still Pay Maintenance?
Hi there My girlfriends children still live with thier dad with no access. Unfortunately the 18yr old has moved out due to…