§ Mr. Malinsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, since the introduction of community service, how many offenders have been placed on community service; and what numbers have thereafter reoffended.
§ Mr. MellorThe number of persons given a community service order in each year is published annually in "Probation Statistics, England and Wales"—table 6.2 of the issue for 1982. From the inception of the scheme at the beginning of 1973 to the end of 1982 the number totalled about 135,000. Results of a study of the reconvictions of a sample of those given community service orders in 1979 are given in "Reconvictions of those given community service orders", "Home Office Statistical Bulletin 18/83", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.