§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in each of the years from 1980 to 1989 inclusive how many gay and/or bisexual men in England and Wales were convicted of importuning in public places, contrary to section 32 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956;
745W(2) in each of the years from 1980 to 1989 inclusive how many men were convicted for the offences of gross indecency and indecency between males in England and Wales.
§ Mr. John PattenThe information requested is given in the table. Data for 1989 will not be available until the autumn.
Males convicted of specified sexual offences 1980 to 1988 England and Wales Offence Soliciting or importuning by a man (Section 32 of Sexual Offences Act 1956) Indecency between males 1980 1,184 1,603 1981 878 1,420 1982 783 1,145 1983 719 1,232 1984 399 821 1985 452 730 1986 452 714 1987 500 951 1988 545 1,333
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men in England and Wales were convicted of the offences of procuring or attempting to procure the commission of acts of buggery and gross indecency in each of the years 1980 to 1989, inclusive.
§ Mr. John PattenThe information requested is given in the table. Data for 1989 will not be available until the autumn.
Male defendants convicted of procuration of males 1980 to 1988 England and Wales Procuration of males 1980 143 1981 121 1982 140 1983 125 1984 194 1985 350 1986 193 1987 246 1988 332
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidance his Department issues to police forces on what constitutes an immoral purpose for the purposes of prosecution for importuning in a public place for immoral purposes;
(2) what guidance his Department issues to police forces as to those acts which might be construed as representing gross indecency.
§ Mr. John PattenNone. The law has been interpreted by the courts. If necessary the police can turn to the Crown prosecution service for advice.
§ Mr. LivingstoneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department issues to police forces on criteria to be employed when deciding between prosecution for the offences of indecency between men and gross indecency; and what is his Department's definition of indecency between males as used in its sexual offences statistics.
746W
§ Mr. John PattenNone. Charges brought under section 13 of the Sexual Offences Act 1956 are for acts of gross indecency between men. There is no lesser offence of indecency as opposed to gross indecency.