§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the comments made by the Recorder of London, Judge James Miskin QC, on Monday 28 March calling for a revision of the varieties of sentence available in a case such as that of a man of 20 years who had indecently assaulted a 10-yearold girl, he will take steps to alter the sentences available in such circumstances.
§ Mr. MayhewAt present, by virtue of section 3 of the Criminal Justice Act 1961 a court wishing to impose a custodial sentence of more than six months but less than three years on a young adult offender (one aged 1.7 and under 21) must, with certain limited exceptions, pass a sentence of borstal training. On 24 May, when part I of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 comes into effect, this section will be repealed. Courts will then be able to pass sentences of youth custody on young adult offenders up to the maximum period of imprisonment which would be applicable to an adult (in the case of indecent assault on a female aged under 13, this is five years). The wole of the law on sexual offences, including penalties, is under review by the criminal law revision committee.