§ 38. Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that magistrates have sufficient powers to punish persistent crimes of vandalism and violence to the person.
§ Mr. BrittanYes. The maximum penalties available to magistrates for the more serious examples of these offences are a fine of £1,000 or six months' imprisonment or both; and they have 675W power to commit for sentence to the Crown court in any case where, in view of the offender's character or antecedents, they consider their powers insufficient.