§ 17. Sir ROBERT YOUNGasked the Home Secretary whether he is now in possession of detailed information from the several police forces regarding the procedure of taking the finger prints of juveniles convicted at juvenile courts; and whether he has come to any decision concerning the uniform conditions under which the finger prints of juvenile offenders should be taken in the future?
§ Mr. LLOYDYes, Sir. My right hon. Friend has received and considered the views of representative chief officers of police and having regard to their experience and the statistical information which is available regarding juvenile crime, he is satisfied that it would be in the public interest that finger prints of juveniles over the age of 14 should be taken on arrest for offences such as shopbreaking, 592 housebreaking and larceny, and he proposes to advise chief officers of police to that effect.
§ Mr. GIBBINSIs the Minister aware that before juveniles are convicted, finger prints are taken, even when on the evidence there is no case against them? May I have an answer to that question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member's question raises a different point.