‘Change the culture, change the system’
At this CYCJ webinar on February 24, Jim Devoy (Police Scotland, Rights and Justice Legislative Programme Team) and Sharon Glasgow (Social Work Professional Advisor, Age of Criminal Responsibility Implementation Team, Youth Justice and Children’s Hearing Unit , Scottish Government) gave an insight into the joint work of Police and Social Work agencies are doing to develop a truly child-centred approach to the implementation of the Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Act, including joint operational guidance and training for police to support this significant change.
Jim and Sharon discussed why the age of criminal responsibility matters, the wider context in which it sits as part of children’s rights and the need for a collaborative approach from all public authorities to ensure we effectively protect and support children now, and in the future. They were also joined by Danny Clark (Police Scotland’s Children and Young People’s team) who gave an overview of what Police Scotland are doing to become a fully trauma-informed force, including training, online courses and a child-friendly custody suite.
Sharon Glasgow: speaker slides
Further reading
Age of Criminal Responsibility: Children and Young People’s Views
The Kilbrandon Lecture 2022: ‘A Rights-Respecting Approach to Children Who Offend: Building on from Kilbrandon’ (delivered by Claire Lightowler).
Rights Respecting? Scotland’s approach to children in conflict with the law
Edinburgh Study of Youth Transitions and Crime
Age of Criminal Responsibility (Scotland) Bill Policy Memorandum (parliament.scot)
Youth justice – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)