Jon Venables and Robert Thompson should not have been prosecuted for James Bulger's murder, the new Children’s Commissioner says today in a call for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised from 10 to 12 years old.
"Dr Atkinson, who was appointed by the Government last autumn, said that a civilised society should recognise that children who commit offences should be treated differently from adult criminals".
"The age of criminal responsibility in this country is ten — that’s too low, it should certainly be moved up to 12; in some European countries it is 14. Even the most hardened of youngsters who have committed some very difficult crimes are not beyond being frightened," Dr Atkinson said.
"In terms of knowing what the full consequences of your actions are, you are into older childhood or adolescence."
What about the victims?
"Dr Atkinson warned politicians not to be so influenced by the views of victims’ relatives".
"The age of criminal responsibility in England was in effect reduced from 14 to 10 by Jack Straw in 1998 when he ended the presumption that children under 14 did not know the difference between right and wrong".
Jack Straw refuses to accept responsibility for his unlawful conduct in the Prisoners Votes Case, and what age is he?
I think the age of criminal responsibility should be raised to 16 or 18.
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Sounds sensible to me.
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Whatever.It doesn't let you off though. A shameless 'hits man'. You can talk all you like about the Mccann's but most people know they're innocent.
ReplyDeleteJon Venables was ten. Give him a break. You are just a wicked areshole. You write a bit of crap to get attention. You hit on popular titles. If I write this..x number of people will listen. Sorry jerk. We don't listen. We do however, sing la la la la while sticking our fingers in our ears, anytime you open your mouth. You should wash Jon Venable's feet.
You were an adult murderer. Ror in hell.