HC Deb 30 January 1958 vol 581 cc94-6W
71. Sir T. Moore

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the comments of Mr. Justice Hilbery at Maidstone recently, when trying a case of robbery with violence, that corporal punishment was the only way to deal with such offences; and whether he will accordingly now reconsider his decision not to reintroduce this form of punishment.

72. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the increase in the number of crimes of violence and to the frequent cases of assaults by gangs on peaceful citizens; and if, in view of the recent observations of Mr. Justice Hilbery at Maidstone, he will introduce legislation to make these crimes punishable by flogging.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I have seen a report in the Press of Mr. Justice Hilbery's remarks. The Departmental Committee on Corporal Punishment, which reported in 1938, considered very carefully whether corporal punishment was an especially

NUMBERS OF OFFENCES OF UNLAWFUL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH GIRLS UNDER 16 KNOWN TO THE POLICE
Year Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under age 13 Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl between 13 and 16
1954 … … … … 210 1,340
1955 … … … … 195 1,491
1956 … … … … 172 1,578
Figures for 1957 are not yet available.

NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PERSONS FOUND GUILTY AT ALL COURTS OF CERTAIN SEXUAL OFFENCES DURING 1956, SHOWING HOW MANY HAD PREVIOUS PROVED INDICTABLE OFFENCES (a) OF ANY KIND, (b) OF SEXUAL OFFENCES
— Rape Indecent assault on a woman Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under age 13 Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl between 13 and 16
Number of different persons found guilty 105 2,278 60 374
Number of these who had one or more previous proved indictable offences of any kind 52 669 25 133
Number of these who had one or more previous proved indictable sexual offences 18 256 8 15
Figures for 1957 are not yet available.

effective deterrent and were not satisfied that it was. In the circumstances, I do not feel justified in proposing legislation to reintroduce this penalty.

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