Plan borders on the criminal

Sir, – As some of your readers might be aware, the Scottish Government is currently proposing to up the legal age of criminal responsibility in Scotland from eight to 12 years of age.

To me, this seems a fair and sensible proposal but I was disturbed to hear Bruce Adamson, the children’s commissioner, thinks that 16 would be a more appropriate age before youngsters were held to account for their crimes.

Surely this would just be a licence for louts to act with impunity and to continue breaking into houses, carrying knives with intent to use, and – on the “petty” scale – continue smoking strong weed, smashing car wing mirrors and running coins along the paintwork knowing nothing will happen to them, even if they are caught.

Mr Adamson might as well write to every school pupil to say, “do what you like, you are untouchable”.

Mr Adamson claimed that his department based their views on the analysis of reliable statistics. However, when social workers turn a blind eye to juvenile crime, when teachers are encouraged by their superiors not to report offences as it reflects badly on the school, and when our underresourced police are reluctant to take action due to paperwork mountains that lead nowhere, how can Mr Adamson claim he is in possession of all the facts?

Should Mr Adamson’s wish ever materialise, does that mean that – God forbid – if we in Scotland have a “James Bulger” crime committed by two 15-year olds then the culprits can walk free because the poor young things didn’t know what they were doing, and it’s really society’s fault for not giving them attention and affection?

Only last week in County Durham, a mob of more than 100 youths – some of them as young as 12 – attacked police with bricks and fireworks.

Would Mr Adamson dismiss this as kids being kids, and who can blame them for getting up to high jinks?

I do think Mr Adamson has a very good point when he blames a lack of parental skills for how some youngsters behave.

However, this is no revelation.

I know Mr Adamson probably means well, but I suspect he’s splendidly isolated in his executive office.

Mr Adamson and his woolly-minded liberal friends won’t agree, but it’s time we got real, and it’s time we got tough on youth crime.

For the sake of including the good kids who want to learn, empower teachers to exclude the louts for good.

And give the police the manpower to chase up every youth crime... and every parent who refuses to take responsibility for their child’s behaviour.

Anything less is a cop out.

Jamie Buchan. Grove Road, Dundee.