Q&A: Is it time to increase the age of criminal responsibility?

March 8, 2026·25 min·2 clips

Andy Hughes describes sneaking out while under police protection to meet friends at the pub.

Crime journalist Andy Hughes and former senior police officer Neil Basu answer listener questions on controversial criminal justice topics, including whether to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10, how police handle dangerous situations, and the rise of 'auditing' videos targeting officers. They debate medical evidence versus practical policing concerns while sharing personal experiences from their careers.

As heard by us

A blunt, uneasy conversation about where childhood ends and criminal responsibility begins.

Andy Hughes and Neil Basu take on a hard question without softening it: should the age of criminal responsibility be raised? They work through Scotland's age of 12, the UN's recommendation of 14, the James Bulger case, and the possibility of 12-year-olds being convicted of…

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Why you'd press play

Listen if you want a straight answer to a question that refuses to stay simple.

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