§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the number of prosecutions for offences involving vandalism against juveniles in each of the years 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973.
§ Dr. SummerskillNo figures can be given of prosecutions for vandalism as this term does not define a criminal offence. The following statistics relate to persons aged under 17 proceeded against for the offences of criminal damage, malicious damage, or arson in the years 1968 to 1973. The Criminal Damage Act 1971, which came into force on 14th October 1971, resulted in many offences that were previously non-indictable offences of malicious damage becoming indictable offences of criminal damage; in addition. offences of criminal damage involving fire were reclassified as arson.
of these powers in individual cases is necessarily a matter for them.