§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest number of juvenile offenders in youth custody; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorOn 31 December 1989 there were 358 sentenced juvenile offenders in prison service establishments. This compares with 907 sentenced juvenile offenders who were held in prison establishments on 31 December 1984. It is the Government's policy that juvenile offenders should, wherever possible, be dealt with other than by a custodial sentence. Many young offenders are already dealt with under a range of demanding and constructive community-based measures. Under the proposals in the White Paper, "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public", the courts will have a wider range of powers for dealing with young offenders in the community.