00:00The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales should rise from 10 to 14, according to the Bar Council.
00:08Its report says criminalising younger children can increase future offending,
00:12and argues greater use of education, welfare and rehabilitation would better protect the public.
00:19Campaigners for a change have previously argued that the case of the murder of two-year-old James Bolger
00:24by ten-year-olds John Venables and Robert Thompson in 1993 on Merseyside
00:29led to a reluctance to increase the age of criminal responsibility.
00:34The government says no decision has been made, and any change will be guided by experts,
00:40while victims and public safety will be at the heart of any reforms.
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