§ 36. Mr. Bill O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many old people were victims of(a) attacks and (b) abuse in (i) England and Wales and (ii) West Yorkshire in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [147125]
§ Mr. Charles ClarkeInformation on the age of victims is available from the British crime survey (BCS). The 2000 sweep of the survey estimates that in 1999 there were 130,000 violent incidents against persons aged 60 and over in England and Wales and that there were also 158,000 incidents where persons aged 60 and over were threatened1. It is not possible to derive from the BCS reliable figures for West Yorkshire.
These estimates are based on incidents reported to BCS interviewers and respondents may be reluctant to reveal all for Ms of abuse or attack. It should also be noted that the BCS only interviews respondents who live in private households.
1This includes any threat made to a BCS respondent or a threat against the respondent that was not necessarily made directly to the respondent.