The Aboriginal Legal Service in New South Wales has handed a petition to state parliamentarians calling for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised.

The petition, signed by more than 63,000 community members, demands an end to the practice of arresting, handcuffing, strip-searching and jailing children as young as 10.

The petition was hand delivered to Attorney General Mark Speakman, Labor’s Michael Daley MP, and Sue Higginson from the Greens.

Principal Solicitor Keisha Hopgood says children belong at home.

She told NIRS News that the petition shows a significant amount of people support raising the age.