A Bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility
House of Lords
28 April 2022
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
This bill would raise the age at which someone can be held criminally responsible. It would change how very young children who commit offences are treated by the justice system. The bill has begun its passage in the Lords, with its first reading having taken place in June 2021.
The bill is at its first reading in the Lords (as of 15 June 2021) and has not yet progressed to later stages.
Generated 21 February 2026
15 Jun 2021
First reading took place on 15 June. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.
Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - is yet to be scheduled.
The 2021-2022 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
