Petition · Ministry of Justice

Stop criminalising kids - raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18

Closed 32 signatures

What the petition asks

Raise the age of criminal responsibility to 18, to match the age when we can vote in elections.
We think the criminalisation of children as young as 10 is a stain on our national life.

We think young children going to court, imprisoning them in Young Offenders institutions, sentencing them for along time for childhood acts, and naming and shaming in the media is wrong.

We feel children with criminal records are scarred for life.

You cannot vote until 18 so we think you should not be subject to criminal law until the same age.

Educate. Understand. Treat. Support. Release.

Timeline

19 May 2025 Petition opened for signatures
19 Nov 2025 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 32
Status Closed
Department Ministry of Justice
Opened 19 May 2025
Closed 19 Nov 2025

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 30 Aug 2026.