§ Mr. Woolmer asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many indictable offences were committed by children and young people with air weapons in 1980 in the age categories (a) under 14 years, (b) under 16 years, (c) under 17 years, (d) under 18 years and (e) under 21 years.
§ Mr. Mayhew:The information available is given in the following table, including offences in which the age of offender was not known.
Serious offences recorded by the police in which air weapons were reported to have been used, by age of principal suspect
England and Wales 1980 Number of offences Under 14 268 14 and under 16 527 16 and under 17 257 17 and under 18 169 18 and under 21 239 21 or over 221 Age not known 3,351 Total 5,032