§ 26. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the juvenile crime rate in the 12 months preceding the Children and Young Persons Act 1969; and what was the comparable rate in 1977 and 1976, respectively.
§ Mr. JohnThe Children and Young Persons Act 1969 came into force in England and Wales on 1st January 1971. The number of persons aged 10 and under 17 years found guilty of, or cautioned for, indictable offences per 100,000 of the population in 1970 was 2,590; the corresponding figure for 1976 was 3,129. Figures for 1977 are not yet available.
§ 31. Mrs. Knightasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will 200W seek to initiate changes in the law so that parents are held responsible for the crimes of children who are themselves not deemed responsible because of their age.
§ Mr. JohnIf the hon. Lady is suggesting that parents should be criminally liable for the acts of their children, particularly those who by law are incapable of committing crime, I do not think that this would be just, humane or practicable.