§ Mr. Welshasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what contribution his Department made to the preparation of the report on protection against vandalism; what steps he intends to take concerning the finding of this report; and when such steps will be taken;
(2) what studies on the cause, effect and possible cures for vandalism have taken place in Scotland;
(3) what penalties can be imposed on persons convicted of vandalism; if he is satisfied that these penalties are adequate; and if he intends to seek any changes in this connection;
(4) what was the estimated cost of vandalism in Scotland in each year over the past five years; and if he will list the main items and organisations affected.
§ Mr. William RossThe report was prepared by a Working Party of the Home Office Standing Committee on Crime Prevention. The Scottish police service was represented on the Working Party by a Chief Superintendent of the city of 453W Glasgow police. My Department was not directly concerned with the preparation of the report but, since the analysis on the report is clearly applicable in Scotland as well as in England, has distributed copies to all police forces and local authorities in Scotland. Follow-up action is primarily a matter for local initiative.
I am not aware of any formal studies having been completed in Scotland on this subject.
Acts of vandalism may be proceeded against as malicious damage to property. Malicious damage is a crime at common law; there is, therefore, no limit, other than the limit on the power of the court concerned in respect of common law offences, on the penalty—whether fine or imprisonment—which may be imposed by the court on the convicted offender.
The difficulties indicated in the report in relation to the preparation of an estimate of the cost of vandalism in England and Wales are relevant in Scotland, too, and no reliable estimate of the cost in Scotland has been made.