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What are the legal rights that come with reaching
a certain age?
At 7 you can:
Open a bank account in your own name.
At 10 you can:
Be held criminally responsible - However a child under 10
who is alleged to have committed a criminal offence may be
brought before the family courts for care/supervision proceedings
if the child is thought to be at risk of significant harm.
Be prosecuted in a Juvenile court - If you have to go to
court, make sure you have a solicitor to represent you.
Be cautioned
Be sent to a juvenile justice centre - You can be sent to
a Juvenile Justice Centre from the age of 10 - 16 inclusive.
Be fingerprinted, photographed, and searched while in police
custody.
Between 10 and 14 years, you are considered to be responsible
for a criminal offence and are treated to the same law as
any young person up to 18.
At 13:
Section 18 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 sets
14 as the minimum age at which a child may take part-time
employment. It is possible for 13 year olds to take part-time
employment provided that local byelaws permit them to undertake
'light work' on an occasional basis.
You must not work before 7 am or after 7pm
You must not work
for more than one hour before the school day starts.
You must not work more than 2 hours on any school day or Sunday.
You can buy a pet
See your medical and social work records if applicable
At 16:
You can ride a moped up to 50ccs
You can work full time if you have officially left school.
You can buy a lottery ticket but you cannot work in a betting
shop!
A boy can join the armed forces with his parent's agreement
You are able to live independently providing specific conditions
are met.
You can get national insurance number (NINO)
Leave school - However you must have reached 16 on or before
the 1st of July in the year you want to Leave, otherwise you'll
have to wait until the following year.
At 17:
You can hold a license to drive most vehicles apart from medium
and heavy goods vehicles.
A care order can no longer be made on you.
At 18:
You are an adult in the eyes of the law!
Criminal charges against you will be dealt with in a local
magistrate's court, not the juvenile court.
You can vote in general or local elections.
You can serve on a jury.
You can make a will.
You can open a bank account without a parent/guardian's signature.
You can change your name - a change of name deed is advised
You can get married without parental consent.
You can leave home
You can apply for legal aid
You can sign on for income support
You can be tattooed
You can apply for your own passport
At 19:
All young people are entitled to full time education up to
the age of 19 either at school or college
you can drive a lorry or a van up to 7.5 tons!
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