§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statutory powers the courts have to order restitution for offences of criminal or malicious damage; and on how many occasions these have been used, in respect of offender or their parents in England and Wales in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Alexander W. LyonUnder Section 35 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973. A court by or before which a person is convicted of an offence, in addition to dealing with him in any other way, may make an order requiring him to pay compensation for any personal injury, loss or damage resulting from that offence or any other offence which is taken into consideration by the court in determining sentence. Section 39 of the same Act permits the Crown Court in certain circumstances to make a criminal bankruptcy order. Section 28 of the Theft Act 1968, enables the court to make orders for restitution and certain other orders in relation to stolen property. I regret that it is not possible to provide information about the number of orders made in cases of malicious or criminal damage without disproportionate expense.