HC Deb 25 June 1935 vol 303 cc955-6W
Mr. G. MACDONALD

asked the Home Secretary the number of male persons found guilty of indictable offences by juvenile courts or ordinary courts of summary jurisdiction in the county of Lancashire in 1931, 1932, 1933 and 1934, showing, separately, the numbers under the age of 14, those of 14 and under 16, and those of 16 and under 21; also giving separate figures for Blackpool, Liverpool, Manchester and Southport?

Sir J. SIMON

Figures for 1934 are not yet available, but the following table shows for the years 1931, 1932 and 1933 the number of male persons under 21 found guilty of indictable offences in courts of summary jurisdiction (including juvenile courts) in the police districts mentioned:

Police District. 1931. 1932. 1933.
Lancaster County.
Age under 14 160 204 240
14 and under 16 168 183 185
16 and under 21 402 419 393
Blackpool.
Age under 14 7 11 18
14 and under 16 14 6 12
16 and under 21 26 30 42
Liverpool.
Age under 14 406 594 621
14 and under 16 276 252 241
16 and under 21 465 516 567
Manchester.
Age under 14 182 242 232
14 and under 16 134 96 114
16 and under 21 221 219 184
Southport.
Age under 14 14 10 37
14 and under 16 13 20 20
16 and under 21 15 21 30

In reading these figures it must be borne in mind that there was in England and Wales during these years an increase in the number of children aged 10 to 14 owing to the rise in the birth rate after the War, and a decrease in the number of persons aged 14 to 21 owing to the decline in the birth rate during the war years.