The government has rejected raising the age of criminal responsibility after the children's commissioner for England argued that the killers of James Bulger were too young to have faced trial.Maggie Atkinson, who was appointed as the commissioner last autumn, said Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, who were 10 when they killed the toddler, should not have been tried for murder because they were too young to understand the full consequences of their actions.Calling for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised from 10 to 12, Atkinson told the Times that a civilised society should recognise that children who commit offences should be treated differently from adult criminals.But a Ministry of Justice spokesman today ruled out a change in the law. He said: "We are committed to tackling crime, and in particular intervening early with young people to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour.
The government has rejected raising the age of criminal responsibility after the children's commissioner for England argued that the killers of James Bulger were too young to have faced trial.
Maggie Atkinson, who was appointed as the commissioner last autumn, said Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, who were 10 when they killed the toddler, should not have been tried for murder because they were too young to understand the full consequences of their actions.
Calling for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised from 10 to 12, Atkinson told the Times that a civilised society should recognise that children who commit offences should be treated differently from adult criminals.
But a Ministry of Justice spokesman today ruled out a change in the law. He said: "We are committed to tackling crime, and in particular intervening early with young people to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour.
We are committed to tackling crime, and in particular intervening early with young people to prevent crime and antisocial behaviour.
