Child

A child is a person aged under 18 according to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).¹

The Youth Justice Legal Centre describes any person aged under 18 as a child.

In the criminal justice system in England and Wales, a child can sometimes mean someone aged 10-13² and a young person can sometimes mean someone aged between 14-17.³

1. Article 1 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child  (back)
2. Section 105 Children Act 1989  (back)
3. Section 107(1) Children and Young Persons Act 1933  (back)