HC Deb 20 December 1935 vol 307 cc2162-3W
Mr. NAYLOR

asked the Home Secretary how many cases of loitering with intent to commit a felony were dismissed in the courts in the years 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, and 1934?

Sir J. SIMON

The numbers of suspected persons or reputed thieves proceeded against in Courts of Summary Jurisdiction in England and Wales under Section 4 of the Vagrancy Act, 1824 (as amended by Section 7 of the Penal Servitude Act, 1891), for frequenting or loitering in a public place with intent to commit felony, and the numbers of such persons in whose case the charge was withdrawn or dismissed during each of the years 1930 to 1934 were as follow:

Persons proceeded against. Charge withdrawn or dismissed.
1930 2,398 623
1931 2,797 732
1932 3,905 1,147
1933 4,154 1,228
1934 3,834 1,449