§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under the age of 16 years have been prosecuted for offences related to prostitution, by age, in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [25050]
§ Mr. MichaelInformation for prosecutions and cautions is given in the tables. 141W
Table A: Number of children aged 10 to under 16 prosecuted for offences1.2 relating to prostitution by age and sex, 1992–96 England and Wales Ages 10 11 12 13 14 15 Offence description Year m f m f m f m f m f m f Kerb-crawling 1992 — — — — — — — — — — — — [Sexual Offences Act 1985 S1] 1993 — — — — — — — — — — — 1 1994 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1995 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1996 — — — — — — — — — — — — Common prostitute loitering or soliciting for the purposes of prostitution 1992 — — — — — 1 — — — 1 — 10 [Street Offences Act 1956 S1] 1993 — — — — — — — — — 1 — 8 1994 — — — — — 1 — 3 — 5 — 14 1995 — — — — — — — — — 1 1 8 1996 — — — — — — — — — — — 6 1 Generally, attempting, conspiring, inciting, aiding abetting, causing or permitting a crime is classified under the heading of the crime itself, though in certain cases it can be a separate offence. 2 There were no court proceedings against children aged 10 to under 16 for offences of 'Persistent soliciting of women for the purposes of prostitution' Sexual Offences Act 1985 s2); and 'Common prostitute behaving in a riotous and indecent manner in a public place' (Vagrancy Act 1824 s3 and pt s4).
Table B: Number of children aged 10 to under 16 cautioned for offences relating to prostitution by age and sex, 1992–1996 England and Wales Ages 10 11 12 13 14 15 Offence description Year m f m f m f m f m f m f Soliciting by a man 1992 — — — — — — — — 2 — 2 — [Sexual Offences Act 1956 S32] 1993 — — — — — — — — 3 — — — 1994 — — — — — — — — 1 — 1 — 1995 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1996 — — — — — — — — — — — — Kerb-crawling 1992 — — — — — — — — — — — — [Sexual Offences Act 1985 S1] 1993 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1994 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1996 — — — — — — — — — — 1 — Persistent soliciting of women for the purpose of 1992 — — — — — — — — — — — — prostitution 1993 — — — — — — — — — — — — [Sexual Offences Act 1985 S2] 1994 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1995 — — — — — — — — — — — — 1996 — — — — — — — — — — — 2 Common prostitute loitering or soliciting for the 1992 — 1 — — — 1 — 1 — 6 1 41 purposes of prostitution 1993 — — — — — — — 5 — 32 — 32 [Street Offences Act 1959 S1] 1994 — — — — — 1 — 5 — 19 — 25 1995 — — — — — 2 — 4 — 11 1 27 1996 — — — 1 — 1 — 5 — 16 — 31 1 Generally, attempting, conspiring, inciting, aiding, abetting, causing or permitting a crime is classified under the heading of the crime itself, though in certain cases it can be a separate offence. 2 There were no cautions given to children aged 10 to under 16 for the offence of 'Common prostitute behaving in a riotous and indecent manner in a public place' (Vagrancy Act 1824 S3 and pt S4).