§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent there has been an increase in the number of sexual offences by men against young girls since the passing of the Street Offences Act; and how many deaths occurred last year as a result of such offences.
§ Mr. R. A. Butler:The Street Offences Act came into force on 16th August, 1959. The number of offences of rape, indecent assault on women and unlawful sexual intercourse with girls under 16 known to the police in England and Wales was slightly less in the first eight months of 1960 than in the corresponding period of 1959. In the Metropolitan Police district the figures for the two periods were about the same. Statistics relating to rape and indecent assault do not include information about the ages of victims.
I regret that I cannot answer the second part of my hon. Friend's Question until the analysis of recent murders which is now being undertaken has been completed.