§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to remove the offence of blasphemy from the statute book. [48550]
§ Mr. MichaelThis is a sensitive area which involves fundamental issues of belief, with strong and sincere views on all sides. In the absence of any consensus on the best way forward, we have no current plans to change the law.
Notifiable offences committed by persons under 16 and cleared up by Lancashire Constabulary in 1997 Five most common offences in each division—ranking order Offence A—Western B—Northern C—Southern D—Central E—Eastern F—Pennine Stealing from shops or stalls 1 1 1 1 1 1 Other criminal damage over £20 2 2 2 2 2 2 Theft from vehicles 3 — — — — — Indecent assault on a male 4 — — — — — Burglary other than in a dwelling 5 4 — 5 4 5 Other wounding — 3 3 3= 5 4 Other theft or unauthorised taking — 5 4= — — 3 Unauthorised taking of a conveyance — — 4= 3= — — Burglary in a dwelling — — — — 3 — Note:
Criminal damage of value £20 and under is not included