HC Deb 25 March 1988 vol 130 cc230-1W
Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what was the total number of arrests made of offenders under the age of 17 years for each of the last five years; and if he will list the figures as a percentage of the total number of arrests;

(2) how many prosecutions were brought against persons under the age of 17 years for each of the last five years; and how many in each year resulted in convictions;

(3) if he will list the number of offenders under the age of 17 years who were (a) arrested, (b) prosecuted and (c) convicted by category of offence for each of the last five years;

(4) if he will list the number of offenders (a) arrested, (b) prosecuted and (c) convicted for each of the last five years who were under the age of 17 years by area.

Mr. John Patten

The readily available information is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", tables 6.1 and 7.7 and in more detail in supplementary tables S1.1(B) and S1.1(C) for proceedings at magistrates courts; and in tables S2.1(B) and S2.1(C) for proceedings at the Crown court; and in tables S3.3(B), S3.3(C), S3.5(B) and S3.5(C) for proceedings by police force area. Data on the age of persons arrested is not collected centrally. Copies of both these publications are available in the Library.

Mr. Amess

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the number of persons(a) prosecuted, (b) convicted, and (c) imprisoned while under the age of 17 years who were subsequently (i) prosecuted, (ii) convicted and (MI imprisoned when older than 17 years.

Mr. John Patten

The available information relates to a sample of offenders born in 1953 and followed up to the end of 1981. A total of 53 per cent. of males and 19 per cent. of females convicted before age 17 were subsequently convicted between ages 17 and 27. Further information on criminal careers is published in Home Office statistical bulletins: issue 7/85 "Criminal Careers Of Those Born in 1953, 1958 and 1963": and issue 35/87 "Criminal Careers Of Those Born in 1953: persistent offenders and desistance": copies of these publications are available in the Library.