HC Deb 21 May 1897 vol 49 cc1033-4
MR. E. H. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the statement made by the Chairman of the London Sessions in charging the Grand Jury on Tuesday last, that out of a total of 204 convicted persons released ment, from 1894 down to last year, 12 only had since offended; and whether he will by circular or otherwise call the will by circular or otherwise call the attention of Justices throughout the country to the successful working of the Probation of First Offenders Act, with a view to its more frequent application?

MR. JESSE COLLINGS

The Secretary of State has seen the very satisfactory statement by the Chairman of the London Sessions to which the hon. Member alludes. There is nothing however, in the evidence before him as to the working of the Probation of First Offenders Act and similar enactments which would lead him to suppose that Courts of Summary Jurisdiction are unmindful of the powers which they possess under those Acts, or that any new circular from the Home Office is needed in regard to the manner in which they use them.