§ 47. Sir R. Glynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage convictions for crimes of violence have increased since the courts ceased to have the power to order corporal punishment for any such offence.
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeThe only offence for which corporal punishment was in practice imposed on adults immediately 209W before its abolition in 1948 was robbery with violence. The number of persons convicted of offences of robbery (the majority of which were robberies with violence) or assault with intent to rob increased by 111 per cent. from 1948 to 1960. During the same period the number of persons convicted of offences of violence against the person of a kind for which corporal punishment could not be imposed prior to 1948 increased by 222 per cent.
§ 48. Sir R. Glynasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics he has relating to the deterrent effects of the present punishments available to the courts in respect of crimes of violence; and if 'he will publish them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeSuch statistical evidence as was available about the effects of different forms of punishment for crimes of violence was presented to the Advisory Council on the Treatment of Offenders and is discussed in the Council's Report on Corporal Punishment, to which I would refer my hon. Friend.
§ 75. Sir T. Mooreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the new evidence of the increase in crimes of violence disclosed by the Criminal Statistics for England and Wales recently published, what plans he has to meet the situation.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe fact that crimes of violence were continuing to increase was acknowledged when the Criminal Justice Bill was before the House, and the publication of the 1960 figures does reinforce the justification for the plans for dealing with the situation which were described during the debates on the Bill.