HC Deb 14 November 1957 vol 577 cc1135-6
40. Brigadier Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reintroduce flogging as a deterrent against crimes of violence.

Mr. R. A. Butler

No, Sir. I am not satisfied that flogging as a judicial penalty is an effective deterrent. The principal offences for which it could be inflicted on adults before its abolition in September, 1948, were robbery with violence, armed robbery, and robbery in company with others. The number of these offences is still below the level of 1948, notwithstanding the general increase in crimes of violence.

Brigadier Clarke

Would not my right hon. Friend think that flogging would protect the very old and very young and prove a deterrent to these crimes?

Mr. Butler

I have studied the Report of the Departmental Committee on Corporal Punishment, which reported in 1938. It examined this matter very carefully and did not find that a judicial penalty appeared an effective deterrent. The figures I have given seem to indicate that. I do not wish to make any further observation on the broad aspects of corporal punishment.

Mr. Younger

Would the Home Secretary agree that, since the somewhat disturbing figures for crime of all categories cover virtually every type of indictable offence, it would be a good thing if his hon. and gallant Friend could understand that there is not a simple and crude correlation between changes in penalties and the incidence of offences?