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There is Overwhelming Support to Raise the Age
Joint Letter
Ten is too young, it's time to raise the age
The Ten is Too Young Coalition are seeking endorsements from organisations and other stakeholders for a joint letter which will be issued to all Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly in advance of Consideration Stage of the Justice Bill.
This letter calls on MLAs to amend the Justice Bill to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility in Northern Ireland.
You can read the text of the letter below and using this web form we invite you to co-sign the letter by telling us if you are endorsing it as an organisation or in another capacity, by providing relevant details.
Add Your Support
We Need Your Support to Send A Clear Message - 10 is Too Young
Dear Member,
We, the undersigned, believe that at 10 years old, Northern Ireland’s minimum age of criminal responsibility is too young. It criminalises vulnerability, entrenches inequality, and fails children, victims and communities alike.
Children as young as 10 who come into contact with the justice system are overwhelmingly those experiencing poverty, trauma, exploitation and unmet need. The response they receive should be one of care, protection and support – not criminalisation.
Criminalising children at such a young age does not prevent harm, does not reduce reoffending, and does not deliver meaningful justice for victims. Instead, it risks compounding trauma, worsening outcomes, and increasing the likelihood of future offending.
Raising the age of criminal responsibility would better align Northern Ireland with international standards, reflect what we know about child development, and enable resources to be redirected towards early intervention, diversion and support that genuinely reduces harm and victimisation.
The Justice Bill presents a rare and urgent opportunity to finally deliver reform that has been promised, consulted on and supported for over a decade. Failing to act now would mean knowingly continuing with a system that does not wholly work in the best interests of children and young people.
We therefore urge Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly to act collectively and take this opportunity to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility, ensuring Northern Ireland moves from being an international outlier to a jurisdiction that truly puts children’s rights and wellbeing at its heart.
It’s time to raise the age.