the curious case of the dog in the nighttime

You also have the right to a phone call when you get to the police station, as well as the right to free legal advice from a lawyer. This person could be your parent/ carer, or a social worker. An ‘appropriate adult’ should be with you before you are asked questions. The person in charge of looking after you, like a parent or carer, should be told why you were arrested and which police station you are at. In addition, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 gives you extra rights as a young person when dealing with the police. The UNCRC also says that you should be told what charges are being brought against you in a way that you understand. You should be treated in a way which is appropriate to your age. When his father arrives, Christopher is questioned by an inspector, and eventually given a warning.Īrticle 40 of the UNCRC means that if you are accused of breaking the law, you should be treated respectfully. How the police should treat you as a young personĪfter punching the police officer, Christopher is taken to the police station and put in a cell. In the The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Christopher is 15, so he is criminally responsible for his actions. However, if you are under the age of 18 when committing a crime, you should still be treated differently to an adult. In Wales, if you are aged 10 or above you can be held responsible for breaking the law. The age of criminal responsibility refers to the age that you can be punished for breaking the law. What is the age of criminal responsibility?

This means children under the age of 18 have specific rights.

The Welsh Government has signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The policeman asks a lot of questions and confuses Christopher, causing him to punch the policeman and be taken to the police station. When Christopher is investigating the death of Wellington, Mrs Shears calls the police. The policeman took hold of my arm and lifted me onto my feet I wanted to answer the question properly, but the policeman did not give me enough time to work out the correct answer. ‘And why were you holding the dog?’ he asked. There are lots of interesting legal issues raised in The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time, and this blog will look at Christopher’s interaction with the police and how the law would affect the situation if something similar happened to you here in Wales. When he finds his neighbour’s dog dead, Christopher sets off to unravel the mystery of who was responsible, whilst writing his own murder mystery novel. The Curious Incident of the Dog In The Night-Time by Mark Haddon is a book that follows the journey of 15 year old Christopher, who has autism.

The curious case of the dog in the nighttime