§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons have been convicted in England and Wales of offences involving child abuse in each of the last five years; and if he will break the totals down by offence;
277W(2) how many persons have been convicted in England and Wales of offences involving the sexual abuse of children in each of the last five years; and if he will break the totals down by offence.
§ Mr. MellorThe readily available information is brought together in the following table. For other types of offences of violence and sexual offences, the information
Offenders aged 17 and over found guilty at all courts in England and Wales of certain violence against the person or sexual offences were the victim is known to be aged 16 or under. Number of persons Offence 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 Indictable offences Murder of infants under one year of age 1 — — — 1 — Infanticide 7 7 9 3 8 6 Cruelty to or neglect of children 138 147 101 101 87 102 Abandoning child under two years* 1 2 1 1 2 1 Child stealing* 13 10 8 7 19 10 Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal 119 140 143 123 142 113 Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal 17 14 9 5 12 21 Indecent assault on a male person under 16 years 485 498 458 460 482 460 Indecent assault on females under 16 years of age 1,347 1,345 1,146 1,167 1,086 1,068 Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13* 77 94 69 59 92 72 Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16* 620 525 454 388 393 393 Incest with a girl under 13 49 50 32 44 38 48 Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse 8 6 3 6 7 — Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 16 6 5 7 7 3 6 Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution, etc. 3 3 4 3 4 3 Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 19 11 8 9 6 8 Gross indecency with children* 239 238 209 205 205 226 Summary offence Cruelty to or neglect of children* 4 4 5 10 1 1