HC Deb 01 June 1961 vol 641 c409
23. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now in a position to give the figures of crimes of violence against the person committed by juveniles during 1960 in the same form as set out in Appendix C of the Barry Report on Corporal Punishment.

Mr. Vosper

In 1960, 1,540 boys and 43 girls under the age of 17 were found guilty of offences of the kinds included in Appendix C.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Would my right hon. Friend agree that that is an increase of about 14 per cent. over 1959 and that these figures of the increase in crimes of violence are causing much concern in the country at present?

Mr. Vosper

I think that my hon. Friend's calculation was not quite accurate. These figures are, of course, extremely disturbing. My right hon. Friend has already dealt with this in previous speeches.