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MAGINNESS: FALSE DEBATE ON AGE OF CRIMINALITY SDLP Justice Spokesperson Alban Maginness said simplistic posturing over the age of criminality by Sinn Fein and the DUP will do nothing to tackle the very real social problems arising from crime and anti-social behaviour among children and young people. He said: “We need a proper debate on these issues, but that is not what we are getting. It is a simple fact that we are totally out of line with international practice. The SDLP wants the Bill of Rights to uphold the UK government’s internationally binding commitments. The UK signed up to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which entails a commitment to raising the age from 10 to 14-16. The detail can be spelled out in legislation and need not be in the Bill of Rights. “This should not be about parties squaring up for a dogfight over a detail. In fact, all parties are agreed that there is a problem with the youth justice system as it is and a real need to ensure that once picked up by the system, children are put back on track, otherwise it’s a waste of time. We need to prevent re-offending. Punishment has to be part of this but if drugs are a problem, let’s get them off drugs. If they can’t read and write, they can’t get a job, so let’s tackle that too. “It is no time for sensationalist headline-grabbing, but rather for serious and courageous debate about what works and what can deliver safer streets and put young people back on track.”
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