What is the minimum age at which a child can be arrested?

The correct answer is that the minimum age at which a child can be arrested in Scotland is 12 years. This aligns with the changes brought about by the Children and Young People's (Scotland) Act 2014, which raised the age of criminal responsibility from 8 to 12 years. This means that children under this age cannot be charged with a crime in Scotland, reflecting a move towards a more protective approach to young children who may engage in behavior that is considered criminal.

This change emphasizes the understanding that younger children may not have the maturity or understanding to comprehend the consequences of their actions fully. Therefore, they are not criminally responsible in the same way that older individuals are. The law recognizes the importance of focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment for children and aims to provide support and guidance instead of incarceration or further legal consequences.