§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons were cautioned in the Metropolitan Police area as an alternativ to prosecution in respect of malicious and criminal damagein each of the years 1965 to 1971; and how many of these were (a) under 14 years of age (b) 14 and under 17 years of age (c) 17 and under 21 years of age and (d) 21 years of age and over;
(2) how many prosecutions for malicious and criminal damage were brought in the Metropolitan Police area in each of the years 1965 to 1971: and how many of the persons proceeded against were (a) under 14 years of age (b) 14 and under 17 years of age (c) 17 and under 21 years of age and (d) 21 years of age and over;
(3) how many persons were convicted in the Metropolitan Police area on charges of criminal damage, excluding arson, during each of the years 1972, 1973 and 1974; how many of these were under the age of 21 years; how many were dealt with by way of (a) fines, (b) custodial sentences and (c) other sentences; and in how many cases the payment of compensation was ordered.
§ Dr. SummerskillI regret that this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how 660W many cases of criminal damage, excluding arson, were reported to the Metropolitan Police in each of the years 1972, 1973 and 1974.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe number of offences of criminal damage of value over £20, excluding arson, recorded as known to the Metropolitan Police in these years as is follows:
1972 7,237 1973 9,371 1974 13,243 No information is available on the number of criminal damage offences of value £20 or less.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of malicious and criminal damage were reported to the Metropolitan Police during each of the years from 1965 to 1971.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe number of offences of malicious damage of value over £20 recorded as known to the Metropolitan Police in each year between 1965 and 1971 is as follows:
1965 2,077 1966 2,436 1967 2,379 1968 2,517 1969 3,674 1970 4,171 1971 5,539 No information is available on the number of malicious damage offences of value £20 or less.
§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutory provisions under which magistrates' courts have power to hold parents responsible for fines and compensation orders imposed on young offenders convicted on charges of criminal damage excluding arson; and how many times were these powers used by magistrates' courts in the Metropolitan Police area during each of the years 1972. 1973 and 1974.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonUnder Section 55 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, as amended, where a child or young person is found guilty a court may, and if the offender is a child shall, order a parent or guardian to pay any fine, damages, costs or compensation imposed on the offender unless the court is satisfied that the parent or guardian 661W cannot be found or has not conduced to the commission of the offence by neglecting to exercise due care or control of the child or young person. Information on how many times this power has been used by courts in the Metropolitan Police area in recent years is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.