HC Deb 17 March 1960 vol 619 cc1452-3
2. Mr. A. Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under 16 years of age were remanded to Holloway Prison, instead of being sent to remand homes, during the month of January, 1960.

Mr. Vosper

Two, Sir.

Mr. Brown

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the measure of public concern over such imprisonment of children is reflected in the widespread publicity which this morning's national Press has afforded the alarming disclosure, by a recently discharged prisoner, that a little girl of 14, guilty of a breach of probation in that she played truant from school, is incarcerated in Ward 4 of Holloway Prison Hospital and is in the company of adult prisoners awaiting trial on such grave charges as murder and attempted murder? Can the Minister either confirm or deny the truth of this allegation?

Mr. Vosper

I share the hon. Gentleman's concern about this particular case, which is additional to the two to which I referred in my Answer. The juvenile court concerned acted quite properly under Section 27 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1948, and this child was committed to Holloway as there was no place available at a classifying school. I have investigated the matter this morning and a place has been found for this girl in an approved school to which she will be sent tomorrow morning.

Miss Bacon

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the country is appalled that children of this age can be imprisoned? Is he further aware that it is reported that the only misdemeanour committed by this girl was that she played truant from school? Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise that to convict a child like this and to put her in prison will make her a criminal in the future? Is he aware that it is very difficult to get any further information about what is happening concerning approved schools and remand homes since the appropriate document, the Directory of Approved Schools and Remand Homes, has been out of print for some considerable time?

Mr. Vosper

The hon. Lady must realise, I think, that this was a decision of the court which it quite properly exercised under the provision inserted in the Criminal Justice Act, 1948. Courts have power in certain circumstances where children are of unruly temperament to remand them to prison rather than to a remand home. It is a power which the courts seldom exercise, although they have chosen to exercise it three times this year. My right hon. Friend has really no authority to comment on the decison of the court.

Mr. S. Silverman

If the right hon. Gentleman thinks that this was a proper action to take, will he bear in mind that he is virtually alone in the country in that opinion? If this kind of thing can properly be done under existing legislation, will he ask his right hon. Friend urgently to consider an amendment of the legislation to make outrages of this kind impossible in future?

Mr. Vosper

I did not say that I thought it was a proper thing. I said that my right hon. Friend could not comment on the decision of the court. I will convey to my right hon. Friend what the hon. Gentleman has said. The real solution of the matter lies, of course, in the provision of remand and observation centres.