HC Deb 04 August 1961 vol 645 c241W
Sir Richard Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics relating to the deterrent effects of the punishments at present available to the courts in respect of crimes of violence were presented by his Department to the Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders; and if he will publish these in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. R. A. Butler

A great deal of statistical information was made available to the Advisory Council and it would not be practicable to publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. A summary of the information provided is contained in the various appendices to the Advisory Council's Report on Corporal Punishment and is discussed in Part IV of the Report.

As the Advisory Council pointed out, statistical evidence about the effect of different forms of punishment is of limited value. Statistics show only offences known to the police and persons found guilty of offences and it is impossible to discover how many were deterred from committing offences by fear of a particular penalty or for any other reason.

Sir Richard Glyn

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage convictions for crimes of violence of all kinds have increased since the Criminal Justice Act, 1948.

Mr. R. A. Butler

Two hundred and seven per cent.