§ Mrs. GoldingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time a child spends in custody, broken down by offence.
§ Mr. Peter LloydResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
Letter from A.J.Pearson to Mrs.Llin Golding,dated 10 February 1994:
AVERAGE SENTENCE LENGTH OF 15–17 YEAR OLDS
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what is the average length of time a child spends in custody, broken down by offence.
The information you have requested is given in the attached table for persons aged 15 to 17 on sentence who were discharged from Prison Service establishments in 1991.
Average time served in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales under sentence1 by prisoners aged 15to17 at sentence discharged from determinate sentences on completion of sentence by offence,1991 Offence Average time served under sentence (months)2 3 Violence against the person 6.6 Sexual offences 15.6 Burglary 4.3 Robbery 10.1 Theft and handling 3.0 Fraud and forgery n/a4 Drugs offences n/a4 Other offences 4.3 Offence not recorded 3.3 All offences 4.7 1 Excludes any time served on remand awaiting trial or sentence, those detained for an indeterminate period at Her Majesty's pleasure, and those for whom a sentence length is not recorded. 2 Provisional figures. 3 Excludes discharges following recall after release on licence, non-criminals, persons committed to custody for non-payment of a fine, persons reclassified as adult prisoners, prisoners who died or were discharged for other reasons such as transfers to other establishments or successful appeals. 4 Number of discharges less than 15 in 1991.
§ Mrs. GoldingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children are currently being held in youth custody, broken down by offence.
§ Mr. Peter LloydResponsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
454WLetter from A.J.Pearson to Mrs.Llin Golding, dated 10 February 1994:
15–17 year olds in custody
The Home Secretary has asked me,in the absence of the Director General from the office,to reply to your recent Question asking how many children are currently being held in youth custody, broken down by offence.
The information you have requested is given in the attached table for persons aged 15 to 17 in Prison Service establishments on 31 December 1993.
Population aged 15–17 under sentence 1in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales on 31 December 1993. Offence Number of persons2 Violence against the person 89 Sexual offences 16 Burglary 287 Robbery 142 Theft and handling 158 Fraud and forgery — Other offences 104 Offence not recorded 51 All Offences 847 1 Provisional figures. 2 Excludes those committed for non payment of a fine.