DrAnneMarieDay

Articles by: Anne-Marie Day

A solitary young person stands in a dark tunnel, backlit by bright light at the exit, evoking themes of isolation and transition, relevant to discussions on community safety and policing.

Is 10 too young to be criminally responsible? Here’s what the evidence says

OPEN

24th June 2026

Dr Anne-Marie Day, Manchester Metropolitan University

OPINION: The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is 10 – the joint lowest in Europe – despite legal protections for children focused on age limits of 16 and 18 for such things as buying vapes and alcohol, and potentially using social media; Dr Anne-Marie Day and Dr Elizabeth A. Faulkner of Manchester Metropolitan University argue that raising the age of responsibility to 12 – and ultimately 14 – will bring better outcomes for children themselves, victims, and society more widely.

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Anne-Marie Day
Senior Criminology Lecturer

Profile
Dr Anne-Marie Day a is Senior Criminology Lecturer and youth justice researcher at the Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) Centre for Crime and Youth Justice Research. She previously spent four years as a Criminology Lecturer at Keele University, and has completed a number of research studies including a Nuffield Project on pathways into and out of custody for care experienced children. Dr Day has many years’ experience as a practitioner and policy maker in a range of roles; she is a qualified Probation Officer, and has worked in the community, courts and prison, and as a Senior Policy Adviser for the Youth Justice Board.