HC Deb 10 March 1960 vol 619 cc622-4
30. Sir T. Moore

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of crimes of violence against the person known to the police during the calendar year 1949, and the number of similar crimes during the calendar year 1959.

Mr. Vosper

The number of indictable crimes of violence against the person known to the police in 1949 was 5,235; the provisional figure for 1959 is 13,875.

Sir T. Moore

Do not these figures convince both my right hon. Friends that the time has come for some more adequate punishment to be given to these people who attack innocent people?

Mr. Vosper

I am not sure whether my hon. Friend is suggesting that that is a case for the reintroduction of corporal punishment—

Sir T. Moore

I am.

Mr. Vosper

—but he will appreciate that not since 1861 have all crimes of violence been subject to the penalty of corporal punishment. These figures will be available to the Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders.

31. Sir T. Moore

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attacks on prison warders by prisoners have been recorded in the year ended 31st December, 1959; and how many attacks on women and children by civilians have been committed, according to police records, during the same period.

Mr. Vosper

There were 213 offences of assault by male prisoners against prison officers, of which 30 amounted to gross personal violence. I regret that the statistics of crimes of violence against the person known to the police do not distinguish the victims by age or sex.

Sir T. Moore

Does it not seem quite illogical that attacks against lusty, male warders should be punished by flogging and that similar crimes or attacks on innocent women and children should not be rewarded by corporal punishment?

Mr. Vosper

I think my hon. Friend knows that the Cadogan Committee quite clearly differentiated between attacks in prisons and those outside. In fact, sentences of corporal punishment for offences in prisons were confirmed in only two cases in 1959.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is the Minister aware that what is perplexing the Chief Constables of Ayrshire and Ayr is the number of cases of people tried for driving motor cars while under the influence of drink? Has he received any representations from anyone that they should have corporal punishment?

Hon. Members: Hear, hear.

Mr. Speaker

Order. These shouts of sadistic enthusiasm do not assist progress.