§ Ms CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the research studies from his Department which have(a) reported and (b) are yet to be published on the reasons for the rise since 1985 in the number of boys and young men charged with, or cautioned, for, offences of violence against the person. [34462]
§ Mr. MacleanNo research reports have been published or are due for publication which deal directly with the number of boys and young men charged with, or cautioned for, offences of violence against the person. Information from Home Office statistics shows a reduction in the number of those in the under-21 age group found guilty or cautioned for offences against the person since 1985, although changes in recording of common assault, which was reclassified as summary only in 1989, will have affected the figures. Allowing for this, it would appear that there has been little change over the period.