§ Mr. Kilroy Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what use has been made to date of community service orders for 16-year-olds; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BrittanThe Criminal Justice Act 1982 enabled the power to make community service orders in respect of 16-year-old offenders, to be introduced area by area. The relevant provisions came into force on 24 May 1983, and at the end of that year, the power was available in 35 of the 56 probation areas. It is now available in 46 areas, and its introduction is planned in another area for October.
The available information on use by the courts relates to 1983, when about 600 persons aged 16 were given community service orders. Over 90 per cent. of the orders were for indictable offences.