Why is the age of criminal responsibility in this country something to which we seem reluctant to rise? Politicians are quick to jump on whatever bandwagon happens to be de rigueur especially when it comes to issues of child protection.
But on the age of criminal responsibility, it’s as though an ancient fug of bureaucracy and age-old political indifference has settled in the corridors of power.
On many occasions as a police constable I dealt with children and young people. Sometimes, I like to think, I had a positive effect on a few young lives. But there were times when I, when we as a police force, failed a young boy or girl and I watched that failure repeat itself through the entire course of the criminal justice system.