HC Deb 29 July 1931 vol 255 cc2266-70
23. Mr. MATTERS

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies how many persons were sentenced to death in each of the Colonies, Protectorates, and Mandated Territories during each of the years 1924 to 1928; for what offences they were convicted; and how many of such persons were executed?

Dr. SHIELS

As the reply is in tabular form, I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the reply:

Statement showing (a) Capital Sentences and (b) Executions in the British Colonies not possessing responsible Government, Protectorates and Mandated Territories administered under the Authority of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in respect of the years 1924–1928 inclusive.
— Offence. 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. 1928.
Capital Sentences. Executions. Capital Sentences. Executions. Capital Sentences. Executions. Capital Sentences. Executions. Capital Sentences. Executions.
Kenya Murder … 22 11 17 14 14 12 13 10 19 17
N. Rhodesia* — 13 2 22 3 38 6 9 1 13 8
Nyasaland Murder … 16 4 10 3 6 3 5 2 20 15
Somaliland* — Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil (a) 1 (a) 2
Tanganyika Murder … (a) 45 (a) 48 (a) 49 (a) 33 (a) 59
Uganda* — (a) 13 (a) 18 (a) 15 (a) 11 (a) 7
Zanzibar Murder … Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 1 Nil
Gambia Murder … (a) 4 1 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
Gold Coast (including Togoland) under British Mandate. Murder … (a) 10 (a) 8 17 11 14 5 64 23
Nigeria (including Cameroons) under British Mandate. Murder … (a) 76 84 77 97 74 98 65 106 75
Sierra Leone Murder … 3 2 4 2 11 8 9 9 5 3
Basutoland Murder … 1 1 2 1 2 1 Nil Nil Nil Nil
Bechuanaland Protectorate Murder … Nil Nil 2 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 1 Nil
Swaziland Murder … 5 Nil 11 1 2 1 2 Nil Nil Nil
Rape … Nil Nil Nil Nil 1 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
Cyprus Murder … 8 7 7 1 8 8 5 4 9 7
Gibraltar Murder … Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil (a) 1 Nil Nil
Bahamas Murder … Nil Nil (a) 1 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
Barbados Murder … 1 1 Nil Nil Nil Nil 1 Nil 2 1
Jamaica Murder … 8 8 3 2 4 3 5 1 6 4
Leeward Islands — Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
Trinidad Murder … 4 3 4 3 5 4 4 2 4 4
Windward Islands Murder … Nil Nil (a) 1 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
Bermuda — Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
British Guiana Murder … 1 1 Nil Nil 2 Nil 8 4 5 4
British Honduras Murder … (a) 2 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil (a) 1

— Offence. 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. 1928.
Capital Sentences. Executions. Capital Sentences. Executions. Capital Sentences. Executions. Capital Sentences. Executions. Capital Sentences. Executions.
Ceylon* — 63 42 59 34 68 45 54 38 75 45
Mauritius Murder … Nil Nil Nil Nil 1 1 Nil Nil 3 1
Seychelles Murder … Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil (a) 2
Fiji Murder … 1 1 8 4 3 1 1 1 Nil Nil
Western Pacific:
British Solomon Islands Protectorate. Murder … 6 6 1 Nil 2 1 13 9 9 6
Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. — Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
New Hebrides No information.
Tonga
St. Helena No returns received.
Hong Kong Murder … 3 1 3 2 6 4 2 2 1 1
Piracy … — — — — 3 3 15 15 — —
Straits Settlements Murder … 14 9 19 14 19 16 15 7 13 12
Malay States* — (a) 6 (a) 8 (a) 5 (a) 19 (a) 9
Palestine Murder … (a) 3 (a) n (a) 1 8 7 9 7
Falkland Islands — Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil
* Nature of offence not stated.
(a) No particulars of the total number of capital sentences are available. All Dependencies are required under the Regulations for His Majesty's Colonial Service to submit to the Secretary of State annual returns of capital sentences executed, but these returns do not in all cases indicate the total number of such sentences pronounced.