§ 67. Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of battered wives were reported to the police during each of the last five years.
§ Mr. CarlisleIt is not possible, on the basis of the criminal statistics as they are at present collected, to distinguish assaults by husbands on wives from other offences of assault known to the police.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many legal actions were taken by battered wives against their husbands during each of the past five years;
(2) how many medical practitioners gave evidence in cases involving battered wives in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. CarlisleI regret that such information about criminal proceedings is not available. Questions about civil proceedings are for my noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, with a view to legislation, he will seek evidence 150W on the need for wife battering to become a criminal, rather than a civil, offence.
§ Mr. CarlisleThe law does not discriminate between assaults by a husband on his wife and other assaults. Any assault constitutes a criminal offence. If the assault is not serious, it amounts to the common law offence of common assault. If the assault causes real injury, it can be prosecuted under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. This branch of the law is under review by the Criminal Law Revision Committee.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will invite chief constables to a meeting to discuss the extent of the problem of battered wives.
§ Mr. CarlisleWe shall consult chief officers of police about this problem.