§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of murders known to the police of children aged under 15 years including, from 1957, offences reduced to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility; and how many were victims of parents or near relatives, how many were victims of non-relatives, and how many were victims of unsolved murders, for each year 1951 to date.
§ Mr. CallaghanFollowing are the latest corrected figures for England and Wales:
Year Murders known to the police of children aged under 15 including from 1957, offences reduced to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility* Victims of parent or near relatives Victims of non-relatives Victims of unsolved murders 1951 … 40 29 5 6 1952 … 52 49 1 2 1953 … 52 39 5 8 1954 … 51 44 2 5 1955 … 59 46 5 8 1956 … 47 41 2 4 1957 … 68 52 8 8 1958 … 45 33 6 6 1959 … 51 39 7 5 1960 … 49 37 7 5 1961 … 47 37 4 6 1962 … 53 43 4 6 1963 … 57 41 7 9 1964 … 52 36 3 13 1965 … 55 42 10 3 1966 … 38 25 8 5 1967 … 64 50 8 6 * The defence of "diminished responsibility" was introduced under section 2 of the Homicide Act 1957, which came into force on 21st March, 1957. I hope that the 1968 figures will be available towards the end of May.