§ Mr. Silvermanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been prosecuted by housing authorities under section 11 of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 since the coming into force of that Act; and, in particular, how many such prosecutions there have been by the Birmingham housing authority and what has been the range of penalties imposed where there have been convictions in such cases.
§ Mr. JohnThe Act came into operation on 1 December 1977 and no proceedings were completed in England and Wales in 1977. Information for 1978 is not yet available.
PERSONS PROCEEDED AGAINST AND FOUND GUILTY* OF OFFENCES AGAINST THE RENT ACT 1965 AND THE PROTECTION FROM EVICTION ACT 1977† METROPOLITAN POLICE DISTRICT Number of persons Proceeded against Found guilty* Magistrates court* 1976 1977 1976 1977 Rent Act 1965 s. 30(1) (Unlawful eviction of occupier) Barking … … … — — — 1 Edmonton … … … — 1 1 Greenwich … … … 3 1 1 Highgate … … … — — — South Western … … … — — — Wells Stree … … … 5 — 5 1 Total … … … 8 2 7 6 Rent Act 1965 s. 30(2) (Unlawful harassment of occupier) Croydo … … … — — 1 East Han … … … — — 1 — Greenw … … … — — Highbury Corner … … … 3 — — — Horseferry Road … … … 3 — — — Thames … … … — — — Tower Bridge … … … 1 — 2 — Wells Street … … … 4 — 4 — West London … … … 1 — — … … … 12 7 5 * Includes persons found guilty at the crown court after committal from the specified magistrates' court. Persons found guilty at the crown court may have been proceeded against at magistrates' courts in an earlier year or for a different principal offence. † There were no proceedings under the Rent Act 1965 at courts not shown and no proceedings in the Metropolitan Police District for offences against the protection from Eviction Act 1977