HC Deb 29 July 1946 vol 426 cc502-3
18. Mr. Wilkes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give the figures for the number of persons in the Sudan punished by flogging during 1945 and the preceding years from the outbreak of war and the number of civilians and members of the Sudan Defence Force who were subject to flogging during these years, with the types of offence for which this punishment was ordered.

Mr. Noel-Baker

With my hon. Friend's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT such detailed information as I have available about flogging in the Sudan for the years 1939 to 1945. I have asked for further information and will communicate with my hon. Friend when it is received.

Mr. Wilkes

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that the worrying thing about such figures as have been published is that there has been a very rapid rise in floggings, from 25,000 in 1937 to 35,000 in 1944? What is the reason for this rapid increase?

Mr. Noel-Baker

It is precisely that kind of figure about which I want to make further inquiry, and that is why I have asked for a report. Of course, my hon. Friend will recognise that there has been, unfortunately, a very great increase of crime during the war, and a shortage of prison accommodation which could not be remedied.

Following is the information:

The following information regarding the number of persons punished by flogging in the Sudan in. the years 1939–45 has been supplied by the Governor-General of the Sudan:

(a) Number of persons aged 20 years or over punished by flogging under the Sudan Penal Code:

1939 … … … 269
1940 … … … 366
1941 … … … 509
1942 … … … 774
1943 … … … 680
1944 … … … 1,034

(b) Number of persons of under 20 years of age punished by flogging or whipping under the Sudan Penal Code:

1939 … … … 1,005
1940 … … … 825
1941 … … … 1,220
1942 … … … 1,633
1943 … … … 1,464
1944 … … … 1,274

(c) Cases of punishment by flogging in the Sudan Defence Force:

October 1942—September 1943 798
October 1943—September 1944 691
October 1944—September 1945 689

(d) Cases of whipping of boys in the Sudan Defence Force:

October 1942—September 1943 288
October 1943—September 1944 277
October 1944—September 1945 269

It is not possible to provide figures for the Sudan Defence Force from the outbreak of war up to October, 1942, owing to the rapid expansion and repeated reorganisation of the units during this period of active warfare. In the Sudan Defence Force flogging is normally awarded for offences connected with sex, perversion, violence, insubordination, theft and burglary, etc., or for looting and kindred offences on service. The figures given in (c) and (d) above are for offences classed as violence, theft and indiscipline. The word "indiscipline" is used as a compendious term for offences of an insubordinate nature, e.g., insolence to a superior, refusal to obey orders, striking a superior, also petty or attempted theft or creating a disturbance. Indiscipline, per se, is not an offence under the civil code. Flogging of civilians is governed by Article 76 of the Sudan Penal Code, which is as follows: A sentence of flogging not exceeding 25 lashes may be passed by the Court of a Magistrate of the First or Second Class trying a case summarily on an adult male offender in lieu of any term of imprisonment to which he might be sentenced under this code.