AC 1.2

• Age of Criminal Responsibility in the UK


  • 10 years of age in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
  • 12 years of age in Scotland
• How laws are applied differently according to circumstances in which actions occur
• Rule of law


  Everyone is subject to the law and it should be applied equally to all
• Examples of laws applied differently

  • Age of criminal responsibility in the UK is 10
  • Age of criminal responsibility in Canada is 12
  • Age of criminal responsibility in Bangladesh is 9
  • Age of criminal responsibility in China is 16
• Despite murder taking place with the appropriate actus reus and mens rea

  The law allows an alternative charge of manslaughter to be made
• Diminished responsibility

  The offender is said to have acted under loss of control