§ Mr. Doughtyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the trend of crime in England and Wales in 1958, as compared with 1957.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe Criminal Statistics for 1958 show a further large increase in the number of indictable offences known to the police. The proportionate increase compared with 1957 was greatest in the groups of offences classified as robbery and breaking and entering. The following table gives the figures for 1957 and 1958.
males the increases were greatest at ages 15 to 20. The following table gives an analysis of the number of persons found guilty of indictable offences in 1957 and 1958.
55WOf the total number of persons found guilty of indictable offences in 1958, 19 per cent. were under 14, 16 per cent. aged 14 and under 17, 16 per cent. aged 17 and under 21, 21 per cent. aged 21 and under 30, and 28 per cent. aged 30 and over. The highest proportion (60 per cent.) were found guilty of some form of larceny and the next largest (20 per cent.) of breaking and entering.
The number of persons convicted of non-indictable offences was 15 per cent. greater in 1958 than in 1957. There were increases of 26 per cent. in the number of persons convicted of offences by prostitutes and 20 per cent. in the number convicted of traffic offences. There were decreases in the number of persons found guilty of non-indictable offences of cruelty to children (17 per cent.), breaches of local and other regulations (5 per cent.) and drunkenness (3 per cent.).