ABSTRACT
The age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales is ten – one of the lowest in Europe. In the English adult courts youths aged 17 and under can have anonymity if an order is made under the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 – known as ‘Section 39 Orders’. This applies to witnesses and defendants. It is inconceivable that any living child sex offence victim could be identified. Child sex offence complainants, like adults, have statutory anonymity for life from the time an allegation has been made. Furthermore child sexual offence complainants under the age of 16 cannot waive their right to anonymity. It can only be lifted by order of a court.
