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What is the alternative? How do those countries with an age of criminal responsibility as high as 14, or even 16, cope? Unsurprisingly, there are clear and tested alternatives that we can look to for inspiration—perhaps we can copy their homework. France uses the judicial educational measure: mesure éducative judiciaire. As the name suggests, it refers the child to specialist schools for supervised educational interventions, or, in some instances, health or social care facilities for additional family or psychological support. A child cannot be imprisoned and cannot receive a criminal record. In Germany, the approach is to treat kids like kids and young adults more like kids. Its youth welfare system, Jugendamt, constructs an individual Hilfeplan with the parents, with the potential for counselling, foster home placements or, in extreme cases, treatment in a secure residential care facility. Children cannot be imprisoned and cannot receive a criminal record. Since 2021, our neighbours north of the border in Scotland do not criminalise the under-12s. Scotland diverts the 150 to 200 children per year aged 8 to 12 years-old who were previously caught up in the criminal system into the welfare system. They cannot be imprisoned and cannot receive a criminal record.