§ Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the ages of those presently detained in the Naval Detention Quarters, Portsmouth, together with the offences of which they have been found guilty, and the length of their sentences.
§ Mr. KirkThe details requested are as below for the 31st December, 1970:
90W
Offence Age 28 days Improperly leaving ship, drunkenness 20, 19 Absence without leave, drunkenness 22 Absence without leave 20, 22 Drunkenness 17, 23 Taking a Motor Launch without permission—wilfully damaging the Motor Launch 18 Wilful disobedience, telling a lie, slack in turning out, possession of two identity cards 23 Smuggling 19 Abandoning his post, asleep on watch 20 Absence from place of duty (was the culminating offence in a series of minor offences) 17 Theft, absence from place of duty, absence without leave 17 42 days Desertion 18, 19, 20, 21, 21 Absence without leave 24 Theft 25 Wilful disobedience, theft, contempt of superior officer 18
Offence Age 60 days Desertion 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24 Absence without leave 21, 20 Assault, occasioning actual bodily harm 21 Wilful disobedience, carrying an offensive weapon 25 Indecent assault 25 Improperly leaving ship, taking and driving away a motor car, no driving licence 20 Possession of drugs 17, 19 Improperly leaving ship, theft 20 70 days Desertion 22 Improper absence 20 84 days Desertion 21 90 days Using violence to his superior officer 20 Possession of drugs—supplying drugs 20 Assault (two charges), wilful disobedience (two charges), using threatening language to superior officer 21 Wilful damage (two charges), neglect of duty (two charges) 19 Assault, striking his superior officer 21 Creating a disturbance, using violence to resist arrest, threatening language 21 5 months Striking his superior officer, smuggling 20 6 months Theft of public property 23 Under normal circumstances the majority of men earn the maximum remission of one-third of their sentences.