§ 51. Sir. T. Mooreasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of violence against the person and how many sexual offences, including rape, came to the notice of the police during the years 1959, 1960 and 1961; and what percentage of these offences was committed by juveniles.
§ Mr. Fletcher-CookeThe number of indictable offences of violence against the person in England and Wales known to the police in 1959 was 13,876, and 133W in 1960 was 15,759; the provisional figure for 1961 is 17,601. The number of sexual offences, including rape, known to the police in 1959 was 20,024, and in 1960 was 19,937; the provisional figure for 1961 is 20,404.
The ages of the persons committing these offences are not known, but in 1959 13 per cent. of the persons convicted of indictable offences of violence against the person and 21 per cent. of those convicted of indictable sexual offences were aged under 17. In 1960 the proportions were 15 per cent. and 20 per cent. respectively. Figures for 1961 are not yet available.