HC Deb 23 February 1993 vol 219 cc485-6W
Mr. Mike O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation he has undertaken to date with the Magistrates Association on the way to deal with persistent juvenile offenders aged between 12 and 15 years.

Mr. Jack

We intend to consult widely, including with the Magistrates Association, before bringing detailed legislative proposals before Parliament.

Mr. Mike O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the maximum custodial sentence available to the courts for a persistent juvenile offender aged(a) 14 years or under and (b) 17 years in (i) 1979 and (ii) 1992.

Mr. Jack

There is no legal definition of a persistent juvenile offender. The information in the table therefore relates to the maximum lengths of custodial sentences available for all juvenile offenders subject to statutory criteria being met. The maximum length of custodial sentences, other than detention under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, for the relevant ages in the specified years are as follows:

Date Sentence
1979
Under 14 No custodial sentence
14 year old (males) Detention centre–6 months
17 year olds Borstal training–2 years
Imprisonment—maximum term was the same as a court could have imposed for the offence in the case of an adult
Up to 1 October 1992
Under 14 No custodial sentence
14 year old (males) Detention in young offender institution–4 months
17 year olds Detention in young offender institution— maximum term was the same as a court could have imposed for the offence in the case of an adult
After 1 October 1992
Under 14 No custodial sentence
14 year olds No custodial sentence
17 year olds Detention in a young offender institution –12 months

At all relevant times, section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 has permitted courts: to impose long—term detention on 14 to 17—year—olds for any offence which carries a 14—year maximum sentence for adults; and, to impose long—term detention on 10 to 13 year olds following their conviction for murder or manslaughter.

Mr. Mike O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent re—assessment he has made of his Department's evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee on the effect of custody in a penal setting on young offenders.

Mr. Jack

At the Committee's request, my Department is preparing a supplementary memorandum of evidence which will deal, inter alia, with the matter to which the hon. Member refers.

Mr. Devlin

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to bring forward firm proposals to tackle juvenile crime.

Mr. Jack

The Government have already introduced a wide range of measures which aim to prevent young people from committing crime. In the Criminal Justice Act 1991, which was implemented on 1 October 1992, we have recently strengthened the powers of the court in relation to defendants under the age of 18.

Both in absolute terms and as a proportion of all known offenders, the number of juvenile offenders has declined in recent years. But the Government are not complacent. We are currently working on additional measures which should enable the courts to deal more effectively with the small number of juveniles who persistently re—offend and for whom existing measures appear not to be working. My right hon. and learned Friend will be announcing his proposals about this shortly.

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