§ 2.55 p.m.
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied that the number of juvenile detention centres meets current need.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, HOME OFFICE (Lord Harris of Greenwich)My Lords, there is at present some overcrowding in the junior centres, but this is not unusual as the population fluctuates considerably in the course of the year. A close watch is kept on the situation to ensure that the most effective use is made of available resources.
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, though I thank the Minister for that reply, I should have liked to have the figures for new detention centres that are being put up. I should also have liked to know whether, as my Question asks, they are meeting the current need, which, as I think he will agree, is to inculcate self-discipline and a sense of responsibility in these youngsters. Can he tell me whether he thinks that the centres are being effective in this way?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, these centres undoubtedly fulfil a useful role. There are six junior centres and 11 senior centres, and work on a further senior detention centre is to begin later this year.
§ Baroness MACLEOD of BORVEMy Lords, is it not a fact that an escalating number of young girls are getting into juvenile crime? Is the Home Office considering having one or two detention centres for girls? There is none at present.
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, I think our view, generally, is that it is better to deal with girls in this age range in local authority accommodation. But the noble Baroness is quite right. There is a disturbing trend of delinquency among girls, and this is an important question.
§ Baroness FAITHFULLMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord what is the proportion of successes to failures, in the case of juveniles sent to detention centres? I believe that the Home Office Research Department calculates that success is when a child has not committed an offence for two years after leaving a centre. Is the Minister able to give the proportion of failures and successes?
§ Lord HARRIS of GREENWICHMy Lords, I am afraid that the rate of reconviction is rather high. In 1973, which is the last year for which figures are available, the reconviction rate of boys under 17 was 70 per cent., but that compares with 81 per cent, among those sent to Borstal.