§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many habitual criminals(a) are under 21, (b) are hard drug users, (c) are without school qualifications and (d) were in care as children; and if he will make a statement. [7296]
§ Mr. DenhamThere is no agreed definition of a habitual criminal. However data are available on offenders with three or more previous convictions, or with five or more previous convictions.
From a sample of persons sentenced for standard list offences during 1999, of those with three or more previous convictions for standard list offences, 19 per cent, were aged under 21; and of those with five or more previous convictions for standard list offences, 15 per cent. were aged under 21.
From a survey of 1,884 male prisoners sentenced in early 2000 the analysis in the table has been obtained:
Male prisoners with: Three or more previous convictions1 Five or more previous convictions1 Percentage who Admitted to using cocaine, crack or heroin during the previous twelve months 57 60 Had no school qualifications 66 67 Were in care as a child 35 37 1Based on number of convictions admitted by the offender