§ Mr. LANSBURYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been brought before Courts of summary jurisdiction charged with offences connected with the Vagrancy Acts during the years ending 31st December 1924, 1925, and 1926, and for the six months ending 30th June 1927; the number of women and men, respectively; and the longest and shortest terms of imprisonment imposed on these prisoners?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe numbers of persons brought before Courts of Summary Jurisdiction for offences against the Vagrancy Acts were: In 1924, 30,026 males and 1,169 females, total 31,195. In 1925, 28,668 males and 956 females, total 29,624. In 1926, 22,857 males and 996 females, total 23,853. Figures for the first half of 1927 are not yet available. The sentences of imprisonment passed by such Courts ranged from the maximum of six months downwards. Particulars for 1924 and 1925 are given in Table IX of the Criminal Statistics for those years.
The figures I have given do not include certain offences, such as assaulting police, indecent exposure, Poor Law offences, and prostitution, which may be dealt with either under the Vagrancy Acts or under other Acts. Statistics of these, not specifying the statutes, appear in the Criminal Statistics under the headings of the offences.