Criminal Law (Recruitment of Children to Engage in Criminal Activity) Bill 2018

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The bill would make it a crime for an adult to recruit, incite, direct, induce, or persuade a child to carry out criminal activity for them. It covers cases where the adult knows the person is under 18, or is reckless about that, and it does not matter whether the child actually goes on to commit the offence or is convicted. A person found guilty could face up to 10 years in prison. It matters because it targets a harmful tactic used by organised crime: using children to do risky and serious wrongdoing on behalf of adults.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to make provision for the creation of an offence in circumstances where an adult recruits a child to carry out a criminal offence on his or her behalf and to provide for related matters.

Last updated 13 February 2020