HC Deb 14 May 1952 vol 500 cc117-8W
52. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies for what offences corporal punishment is still inflicted by law in British West African territories.

Mr. Lyttelton

The following is a list of the offences in the West African territories for which corporal punishment may lawfully be inflicted by the courts, excluding native courts, about which the information in my possession is insufficient to enable me to include them:

GAMBIA

Adults

  1. 1. Procuration.
  2. 2. Disabling in order to commit a felony or misdemeanour.
  3. 3. Robbery with violence and attempted robbery with violence.
  4. 4. Attempted murder by a convict.

Juveniles

  1. 1. Any offence for which a juvenile is liable to imprisonment.

SIERRA LEONE

Adults

  1. 1. Rape.
  2. 2. Indecent assault on any female.
  3. 3. Robbery with violence.

Juveniles

  • Any offence other than an offence punishable by death.

GOLD COAST

Adults The Gold Coast Legislature have recently passed an ordinance the intention of which is to abolish the use of flogging (with the cat), except for aggravated forms of housebreaking and burglary, i.e., where the offender uses, or threatens the use of, force or carries a dangerous weapon or instrument. Whipping is retained for an adult but only for a second or subsequent conviction of trading in prostitution.

Juveniles Any offence punishable by imprisonment.

NIGERIA

Adults

  1. 1. Defilement (including attempts) of girls under 13 years of age, and of idiots.
  2. 2. Householder permitting defilement of girls under 13 on his premises.
  3. 3. Indecent treatment of girls under 13.
  4. 4. Trading in prostitution at a second or subsequent conviction.
  5. 5. Disabling in order to commit crime.
  6. 6. Intentionally endangering safety of persons travelling by railway.
  7. 7. Rape or attempted rape.
  8. 8. Robbery and attempted robbery if the offender is armed with a dangerous or offensive weapon or instrument, is accompanied. or uses violence.
  9. 9. When a person is convicted of any offence for which he is liable to imprisonment for a period of six months or more the court may if it thinks fit having regard to the prevalence of crime within its jurisdiction or to the antecedents of the offender sentence such offender to whipping either in addition to or in lieu of any other punishment to which the offender is liable.

Juveniles Whenever a male person who in the opinion of the court has not attained 17 years of age has been found guilty of any offence the court may, in its discretion, order him to be whipped in addition to or in addition to or in substitution for any other punishments to which he is liable.