§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his Department's research unit 's report entitled "Persistent Petty Offenders"; and what action he intends to take to alleviate overcrowding in prisons by petty offenders.
§ Mr. Mayhew"Persistent Petty Offenders", Home Office research study No. 66, describes four projects whose aim was to explore ways in which such offenders might be diverted from custody. The study discussed alternative approaches to such offenders but concluded that, even if diversion were successful, it would not solve the problem of overcrowding in prisons because the identified numbers were so small.
None the less, the Government recognise the importance of developing the alternatives to imprisonment 283W for petty offenders which are available to the courts, and will continue to encourage the provision of facilities such as hostels and day centres. The first experimental overnight shelter for drunkenness offenders is expected to open shortly.