HC Deb 26 October 1989 vol 158 c608W
24. Mr. Nellist

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest figures for the level of prosecutions, under sections 3 and 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824, for homeless young people in London; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. John Patten

The number of persons aged under 21 proceeded against in the Metropolitan police district under sections 3 and 4 of the Vagrancy Act 1824 for 1987 was 171. Information is not collected centrally on the number of homeless people who have been prosecuted under the aforesaid Act. However of the 171 prosecutions only four were for sleeping out. This compares with 66 for being on enclosed premises for an unlawful purpose, 49 for indecent exposure and 38 for begging. Data for 1988 are not yet available.