§ Baroness Lockwoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many prosecutions there have been against sex abusers of children on a comparative basis over the last five years and what penalties were imposed. [HL3324]
§ Lord Williams of MostynTables containing the available information for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have been placed in the Library. It should be noted that for England and Wales and Scotland it is not possible to identify all sexual offences where the victim is aged 16 years or under. 105WA
Table A2: Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for sexual offences against children1 by sex, type of offences and result, England and Wales, 1994 Offence description Sex Total prosecuted Total found guilty2 Total sentenced Discharge Fine Community sentence Immediate custody Other Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal M 342 133 133 9 4 19 93 8 F 3 2 2 — — — 2 — Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal M 21 16 16 1 — 1 12 2 F — — — — — — — — Indecent assault on male person under 16 years M 430 316 316 12 1 123 170 10 F 19 8 8 2 — 3 2 1 Indecent assault on a female under 16 M 2,019 1,350 1,344 97 29 500 654 64 F 17 5 5 — — 1 3 1 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13 M 88 64 65 2 1 22 36 4 F — — — — — — — — Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 M 202 205 204 38 14 81 64 7 F — — — — — — — — Incest with a girl under 13 M 40 35 35 — — 9 25 1 F 1 — — — — — — — Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse M 5 4 4 — — — 4 — F — — — — — — — — Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 M — 2 2 — — — 2 — F — — — — — — — — Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution etc. M — — — — — — — — F 1 — — — — — — — Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 M 23 8 8 — — 2 5 1 F 4 1 1 — — — 1 — Abduction of unmarried girl under 18 M — — — — — — — — F — — — — — — — — Gross indecency with boys aged 14 and under M 85 74 74 5 — 33 32 4 F 2 3 3 — — 2 1 — Gross indecency with girls aged 14 and under M 127 111 109 5 3 47 46 8 F 2 1 1 — — 1 — — Total M 3,382 2,321 2,310 169 52 837 1,143 109 F 49 20 20 2 — 7 9 2 M = Males.
F = Females.
1 It is not possible to identify all sexual offences where the victim is aged 16 or under.
2 Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences.
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Table A3: Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for sexual offences against children4 by sex, type of offence and result,
England and Wales, 1995
Offence Sex Total prosecuted Total found guilty5 Total sentenced Discharge Fine Community sentence Immediate custody Other Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal M 124 86 86 2 — 5 75 4 F 1 — — — — — — — Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal M 6 14 14 — — 3 11 — F — — — — — — — — Buggery by a male of a male under 161 M 48 29 29 — — 1 28 — F — — — — — — — — Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged 16 or 171 M 1 2 2 — — 1 1 — F — — — — — — — — Buggery by a male aged 18–20 with a male age 16 or 171 M — — — — — — — — F — — — — — — — —
Table A3: Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for sexual offences against children4 by sex, type of offence and result, England and Wales, 1995 Offence Sex Total prosecuted Total found guilty5 Total sentenced Discharge Fine Community sentence Immediate custody Other Buggery by a male with a female under 161 M 25 7 7 1 — 2 4 — F — — — — — — — — Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a female aged 16 or 171 M 2 2 2 — — — 2 — F — — — — — — — — Buggery by a male aged 18–20 with a female aged 16 or 171 M — 1 1 — — — 1 — F — — — — — — — — Indecent assault on male person under 16 years M 392 331 329 16 5 94 203 11 F 8 8 8 2 — 4 1 1 Gross indecency by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged under 182 M 10 11 11 1 2 2 4 2 F — — — — — — — — Gross indecency by a male aged 18–20 with a male aged under 182 M — — — — — — — — F — — — — — — — — Rape of a female aged under 163 M 330 111 111 — — 4 94 13 F 6 2 2 — — 1 1 — Rape of a male aged under 163 M 18 2 2 — — — 1 1 F — — — — — — — — Attempted rape of a female aged under 163 M 32 21 21 — — 2 16 3 F — — — — — — — — Attempted rape of a male aged under 163 M — 2 2 — — — 2 — F — — — — — — — — Indecent assault on a female under 16 M 1,787 1,440 1,444 83 23 441 823 74 F 10 6 6 1 — 2 3 — Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13 M 77 81 81 4 — 21 54 2 F — — — — — — — — Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 M 195 203 203 39 12 67 85 — F — — — — — — — — Incest with a girl under 13 M 22 21 21 — — 6 12 3 F — — — — — — — — Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse M 3 5 4 — — 2 2 — F — — — — — — — — Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 M 3 2 2 1 — — 1 — F 1 1 1 — — — 1 —
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Table A3: Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for sexual offences against children4 by sex, type of offence and results,
England and Wales, 1995 (continued)
Offence Sex Total prosecuted Total found guilty5 Total sentenced Discharge Fine Community sentence Immediate custody Other Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution etc. M — 2 2 1 — — 1 — F — 1 1 — — — 1 — Male aged 21 or over procuring or attempting to procure a male under 18 of gross indecency with another male3 M 1 2 2 — — 1 1 — F — — — — — — — — Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 M 11 6 6 — — 1 5 — F — — — — — — — — Abduction of unmarried girl under 18 M — 1 1 — — — — 1 F 1 — — — — — — —
Table A3: Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for sexual offences against children4 by sex, type of offence and results,
England and Wales, 1995 (continued)
Offence Sex Total prosecuted Total found guilty5 Total sentenced Discharge Fine Community sentence Immediate custody Other Gross indecency with boys aged 14 and under M 62 56 57 1 3 25 28 — F — — — — — — — — Gross indecency with girls aged 14 and under M 105 98 99 2 1 36 57 3 F 4 1 1 — — — 1 — Total M 3,254 2,536 2,539 151 46 714 1,511 117 F 31 19 19 3 — 7 8 1 1 Buggery and attempted buggery offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 12 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Section 143. 2 Indecency between males offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 12 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Section 144. 3 Rape and attempted rape offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 1 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Section 142. 4 It is not possible to identify all sexual offences where the victim is aged 16 years or under. 5 Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences. M = Males.
F = Females.
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Table A4: Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for sexual offences against children4 by sex, type of offence and results,
England and Wales, 1996
Offence Sex Total prosecuted Total found guilty5 Total sentenced Discharge Fine Community sentence Immediate custody Other Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal M 16 5 5 — — — 5 — F — — — — — — — — Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal M 3 2 2 — — — 2 — F — — — — — — — — Buggery by a male of a male under 161 M 66 66 66 — — 4 62 — F — — — — — — — — Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged 16 or 171 M 2 3 3 — — — 3 — F — — — — — — — — Buggery by a male aged 18–20 with a male aged 16 or 171 M — — — — — — — — F — — — — — — — — Buggery by a male with a female under 161 M 26 17 17 — — 2 14 1 F — — — — — — — — Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a female aged 16 or 171 M — 2 2 — — — 2 — F — — — — — — — — Buggery by a male aged 18–20 with a female aged 16 or 171 M — — — — — — — — F — — — — — — — — Indecent assault on male person under 16 years M 315 349 348 8 6 109 213 12 F 10 6 6 1 — 4 1 — Gross indecency by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged under 182 M 9 11 11 — 1 6 4 — F — — — — — — — — Gross indecency by a male aged 18–20 with a male aged under 182 M 1 — — — — — — — F — — — — — — — — Rape of a female aged under 163 M 474 209 208 1 — 4 185 18 F 3 1 1 — — — 1 — Rape of a male aged under 163 M 19 13 13 — — 1 4 8 F 1 — — — — — — — Attempted rape of a female aged under 163 M 43 35 35 — — 2 27 6 F 1 — — — — — — — Attempted rape of a male aged under 163 M 4 2 2 — — — 2 — F — — — — — — — — Indecent assault on a female under 16 M 1,587 1,590 1,577 61 34 493 911 78 F 17 7 7 1 — 2 3 1
Table A4: Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for sexual offences against children4 by sex, type of offence and results,
England and Wales, 1996
Offence Sex Total prosecuted Total found guilty5 Total sentenced Discharge Fine Community sentence Immediate custody Other Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13 M 40 54 54 2 — 13 35 4 F — — — — — — — — Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 M 164 207 210 20 20 76 86 8 F — — — — — — — — Incest with a girl under 13 M 26 19 19 — — 1 18 — F — — — — — — — — Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse M 2 — — — — — — — F — — — — — — — — Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 M 2 — — — — — — — F 2 — — — — — — —
Table A4: Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for sexual offences against children4 by sex, type of offence and results,
England and Wales, 1996 (continued)
Offence Sex Total prosecuted Total found guilty5 Total sentenced Discharge Fine Community sentence Immediate custody Other Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution etc. M — — — — — — — — F 2 1 1 — — 1 — — Male aged 21 or over procuring or attempting to procure a male under 18 of gross indecency with another male3 M — 3 3 — — 1 2 — F — — — — — — — — Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 M 9 3 3 — — 1 1 1 F — — — — — — — — Abduction of unmarried girl under 18 M 1 1 1 — — — 1 — F — — — — — — — — Gross indecency with boys aged 14 and under M 60 53 52 3 1 25 20 3 F 1 — — — — — — — Gross indecency with girls aged 14 and under M 96 108 109 1 — 45 58 5 F 1 1 1 — — — — — Total M 2,965 2,752 2,740 96 62 783 1,655 144 F 38 16 16 2 — 8 5 1 1 Buggery and attempted buggery offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 12 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Section 143. 2 Indecency between males offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 12 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Section 144. 3 Rape and attempted rape offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 1 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Section 142. 4 It is not possible to identify all sexual offences where the victim is aged 16 years or under. 5 Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences. M = Males.
F = Females.
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Table A5: Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for sexual offences against children4 by sex, type of offence and results,
England and Wales, 1997(p)
Offence Sex Total prosecuted Total found guilty5 Total sentenced Discharge Fine Community sentence Immediate custody Other Buggery by a male of a male under 161 M 106 70 70 — 1 1 67 1 F 1 — — — — — — — Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged 16 or 171 M 6 6 6 — 1 1 4 — F — — — — — — — — Buggery by a male aged 18–20 with a male aged 16 or 171 M 3 1 1 1 — — — — F — — — — — — — —
Table A5: Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for sexual offences against children4 by sex, type of offence and results,
England and Wales, 1997(p)
Offence Sex Total prosecuted Total found guilty5 Total sentenced Discharge Fine Community sentence Immediate custody Other Buggery by a male with a female under 161 M 34 21 21 1 — 1 18 1 F 1 2 — — — — — — Buggery by a male aged 21 or over with a female aged 16 or 171 M 1 — — — — — — — F — — — — — — — — Buggery by a male aged 18–20 with a female aged 16 or 171 M 1 — — — — — — — F — — — — — — — — Indecent assault on male person under 16 years M 355 353 343 9 2 111 208 13 F 18 10 10 2 — 3 2 3 Gross indecency by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged under 182 M 30 17 16 2 7 3 4 — F — — — — — — — — Gross indecency by a male aged 18–20 with a male aged under 182 M 3 2 2 — 1 1 — — F — — — — — — — — Rape of a female aged under 163 M 581 198 198 — — 7 173 18 F 11 — — — — — — — Rape of a male aged under 163 M 45 24 23 — — — 18 5 F — — — — — — — — Attempted rape of a female aged under 163 M 74 52 52 — — 3 45 4 F — 1 — — — — — — Attempted rape of a male aged under 163 M 5 5 5 — — — 5 — F — — — — — — — — Indecent assault on a female under 16 M 1,627 1,621 1,581 59 40 492 910 80 F 12 6 6 3 — — 3 — Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 13 M 40 44 44 1 — 12 30 1 F — — — — — — — — Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 M 153 199 198 26 6 70 86 10 F — — — — — — — — Incest with a girl under 13 M 14 19 19 — — 2 15 2 F — — — — — — — — Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse M 7 3 3 1 — — 2 — F — — — — — — — — Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 16 M 2 1 1 1 — — — — F 1 1 — — — — — —
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Table A5: Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for sexual offences against children4 by sex, and type of offence and result,
England and Wales, 1997(p)
Offence Sex Total prosecuted Total found guilty5 Total sentenced Discharge Fine Community sentence Immediate custody Other Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution etc. M — 1 1 — — — 1 — F — — — — — — — — Male aged 21 or over procuring or attempting to procure a male under 18 of gross indecency with another male3 M 6 6 6 — — 1 5 — F — — — — — — — — Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 M 6 — — — — — — — F — 1 1 — — 1 — — Abduction of unmarried girl under 18 M — — — — — — — — F — — — — — — — —
Table A5: Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted at all courts for sexual offences against children4 by sex, and type of offence and result,
England and Wales, 1997(p)
Offence Sex Total prosecuted Total found guilty5 Total sentenced Discharge Fine Community sentence Immediate custody Other Gross indecency with boys aged 14 and under M 61 55 54 1 1 25 24 3 F 2 1 1 — — — 1 — Gross indecency with girls aged 14 and under M 105 110 111 5 — 42 60 4 F 4 1 1 — — — 1 — Total M 3,265 2,808 2,756 107 59 773 1,675 142 F 50 23 19 5 — 4 7 3 (p) = provisional. 1 Buggery and attempted buggery offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 12 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Section 143. 2 Indecency between males offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 12 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Section 144. 3 Rape and attempted rape offences under the Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 1 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, Section 142. 4 It is not possible to identify all sexual offences where the victim is aged 16 years or under. 5 Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences. M = Males.
F = Females.
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Table B: Persons proceeded against where the main offence was child sexual abuse1 in Scotland 1992–1996 Outcome of proceedings Year of sentence Crime Charge not proved2 Custody Community sentence3 Fine Other4 Total 1992 Sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 — 5 2 — — 7 Sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 12 5 17 12 26 72 Handling obscene material 1 — 1 3 — 5 Lewd and libidinous practices 33 66 65 15 13 192 Total 46 76 85 30 39 276 1993 Sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 — 3 3 2 — 8 Sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 14 3 17 18 16 68 Handling obscene material — — — — — — Lewd and libidinous practices 29 59 74 16 9 187 Total 43 65 94 36 25 263 1994 Sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 — — 3 — — 3 Sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 7 11 17 26 17 78 Handling obscene material — — 1 1 — 2 Lewd and libidinous practices 48 96 64 17 11 236 Total 55 107 85 44 28 319 1995 Sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 — 4 1 — 1 6 Sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 8 11 17 13 10 59 Handling obscene material 1 2 — 1 — 4 Lewd and libidinous practices 36 94 50 13 9 202 Total 45 111 68 27 20 271 1996 Sexual intercourse with a girl under 13 3 2 4 1 — 10 Sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 9 14 19 15 11 68 Handling obscene material 3 — — 7 — 10 Lewd and libidinous practices 39 94 49 6 7 195 Total 54 110 72 29 18 283 1 It is impossible to identify all of the cases where children are involved because the Scottish Office Home Department's classification of crimes and offences does not contain information on the victims of crime. The above table contains crimes within the classification which by definition involve children. 2 Charge not proved includes proceedings dropped or halted, plea not guilty accepted or deserted, acquitted not guilty and acquitted not proven. 3 Community sentence includes probation and community service orders. 4 Other includes admonition or caution, absolute discharge, compensation orders, insanity, hospital and guardianship orders and remits to children's hearings.
Table C: Adults prosecuted/convicted of sexual offences against children, Northern Ireland, 1993–1997 Disposal Year Offence Number prosecuted1 Number convicted2 Immediate custody Suspended custody Community supervision Fine Conditional discharge 1993 Gross indecency with a child 11 4 2 1 1 — — Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 14 3 2 — 1 1 — — Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 17 8 7 2 2 2 1 — Taking indecent photographs of a child — 1 — — 1 — — Total 22 14 4 4 5 1 — 1994 Gross indecency with a child 11 7 3 — 4 — — Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 14 4 4 3 — — 1 — Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 17 14 16 2 5 5 3 1 Total 29 27 8 5 9 4 1 1995 Gross indecency with a child 8 8 4 2 2 — — Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 14 3 3 — 1 2 — — Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 17 19 16 2 5 3 1 5 Total 30 27 6 8 7 1 5 1996 Gross indecency with a child 8 7 1 2 2 2 — Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 14 2 3 1 1 1 — — Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 17 10 9 1 5 2 — 1 Distributing indecent photographs of a child 1 1 — 1 — — — Possessing indecent photographs of a child 1 1 — — 1 — — Total 22 21 3 9 6 2 1 1997 Gross indecency with a child 3 2 — 1 1 — — Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 14 2 4 1 1 1 — 1 Unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 17 7 7 2 1 3 — 1 Possessing indecent photographs of a child 1 1 — — — 1 — Total 13 14 3 3 5 1 2 Note:
All offenders were males and all victims were aged 16 years or under.
1 Magistrates courts only.
2 All courts (magistrates and the Crown Court).
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