HC Deb 04 December 1990 vol 182 cc88-9W
Mrs. Golding

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were(a) prosecuted and convicted in the Metropolitan and City of London police districts in the year ended December 1989 under the Vagrancy Act 1824 for (i) begging and (ii) sleeping out, (b) prosecuted and convicted in the rest of England and Wales in the same period for the same offences; and how many people at (a) and (b) above (1) were fined, (2) received custodial sentences, (3) served custodial sentences in default of payment of fines, (4) received conditional discharges and (5) received probation orders, respectively.

Mr. John Patten

The information available is given in the table. Figures are not available separately for receptions into prison service establishments in default of payment of a fine for offences of begging and sleeping out.

Total proceeded against Total found guilty Total for sentence Conditional discharge Fine Sentence Probation order Immediate custody Other
England and Wales
Begging 1,402 1,319 1,319 363 928 3 25
Sleeping out 24 16 16 2 13 1
1 Including the City of London.