§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received a report of the survey on the use of certificates of unruliness for the remand of juvenile offenders; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. JohnThe Home Office survey showed that, during February 1976, courts issued a total of 378 certificates of unruliness; only 49 of these were in respect of 14 year olds, 43 boys and six girls. In 281 cases the certificate was requested by the police, in 47 it was requested by the local authority, and in 40 by both together, and the most common ground was the offender's history of absconding—219 cases. Other factors which led to the issue of certificates were a history of violent behaviour directed against others or of extremely disruptive behaviour; the nature of the offence; the committing of further offences while the offender was on bail. The respondents mentioned the lack of suitable local authority secure accommodation as a reason for the issue of the certificate in 172 cases. The most common offence of which the young people were charged—602 cases—was an offence against the Theft Act 1968.