ACT Policing want Canberra's criminal age of responsibility raised to 12, not 14

ACT Policing say there is a cohort of 13- to 14-year-olds who are engaged in "serious and violent offending" and police are concerned this group will continue this behaviour without fear of repercussions in the criminal justice system if the age is raised.

The ACT government has planned to introduce a nation-leading bill to raise the age of criminal responsibility next year.

Submissions from a recent consultation have showed strong support for raising the age to 14.

The territory government committed to the reform in the Labor-Greens power-sharing agreement, however, the agreement does not specify what the age should be.

Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury is supportive of raising the minimum age to 14. It was a 2020 election commitment from the ACT Greens.

The United Nations child rights committee has said the minimum age of criminal responsibility should be 14. Australia has also faced pressure from more than 30 United Nation member states to raise the age to 14.

However, while the territory's police have given in-principle support for raising the age, they say they would prefer it was raised to 12.

Police said if the age was raised to 12 they would still focus on diversionary responses for those who are 13 and 14.

ACT Policing's position was outlined in a submission to the territory government's public consultation on the reform.

The consultation, which started earlier this year, received 52 submissions with most strongly supportive of raising the age of criminal responsibility.

Most submissions said the age should be raised to 14 and that there should be no exceptions for serious crimes committed by those under 14.

There was a strong emphasis on a need to invest in better support services for children, as was highlighted in a recent review of the ACT's service system which called for extensive reform.

Mr Rattenbury said he hoped the ACT's progress on the issue would motivate other jurisdictions.

"The ACT government is committed to this important reform, including putting the integrated support and services in place that these children and young people need to put their lives back on track," he said.

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Families and Community Services Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the consultation reaffirmed raising the age was the right thing to do but implications needed to be carefully considered.

"We know that children and young people who come into contact with the youth justice system often have complex lives," she said.

"While young people need to be accountable for the impact of their actions on others, it is better for everyone if they are supported to address their challenges and diverted from later engagement in the justice system."

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