HC Deb 01 February 1993 vol 218 cc50-1W
Mr. Butcher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what figures he has on the level of juvenile re-offending after cautions or non-custodial sentences have been passed on such offenders, in the latest convenient period.

Mr. Jack

Information on this is available firstly from a sample study of juveniles during 1985 and is given in the table. The figures are subject to sampling error. More information on this study is given in the Home Office Statistical Bulletin (HOSB) "Criminal histories of those cautionéd in 1985 and 1988".

Secondly, information is also available from sample studies of cohorts born in certain years. Of those born in 1953, 1958 or 1963 who were convicted of an offence before they were 16 and given a non-custodial sentence at their first conviction, 35 per cent. were reconvicted of another offence within two years. More information is available in HOSB 7/85 "Criminal careers of those born in 1953, 1958 and 1963", and results from both studies are regularly updated. Copies of statistical bulletins are available in the Library of the House.

Number of juveniles cautioned in 1985 and proportion convicted within two years
Percentage convicted Number cautioned1
Under 14 11 834
Age 14–16 16 1,327
Under 17 14 2,161
1 = 100 per cent.