§ MR. BYLESI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the report by Major Malcolm, Chief Constable of Hull, of his scheme (adopted by the health committee of the corporation) for dealing with juvenile offenders, in view of the results, extending to 600 cases in six months, in keeping the children from contact with the police court and in preventing a recurrence of the offences; whether he will consider the advisability of proceeding, either by legislation or administrative action, in regard to juvenile offenders in all the great towns; and can he say in how many places separate courts or some method of separate treatment have been set up for accused persons of tender age.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI have now seen Major Malcolm's report. The scheme he has adopted with the approval of the watch committee appears to have worked admirably during the six months it has been in operation. But it involves the Chief Constable exercising something very nearly akin to judicial functions, and I doubt whether I could properly recommend its general adoption. I shall watch the further progress of Major Malcolm's experiment with interest. I trust that the Probation of Offenders Bill which I have introduced will assist in dealing with the juvenile offenders in 1507 large towns. Full particulars as to the separation of children in police courts are given in a Return prepared by the Home Office and circulated to Members last Friday.