§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what plans he has for tighter regulation of charity fund-raising; and if he will make a statement; [80185]
(2) what discussions he has had with the Charity Commissioners regarding bogus fund-raisers; and if he will make a statement; [80186]
25W(3) if he will seek to provide the police with powers to confiscate takings from bogus charity collectors. [80187]
§ Mr. BoatengThe Home Office works closely with the Charity Commission and all Government Departments on matters relating to the charitable sector.
The police already have the power to seize anything that is evidence of an offence. The decision on whether such property should be confiscated is a matter for the courts under section 71 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and section 43 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973.
Under the Charities Act 1993 the Charity Commission can investigate when it appears that funds raised on charitable trusts may be at risk. The Commission can, and does, freeze bank accounts and appoint new trustees where this is necessary.
The Commission also works closely with the police and local authorities to ensure, as far as possible, that money donated by members of the public is used for the purposes intended by the donors. It also seeks to raise the public's awareness of the problems posed by bogus fund-raising, and gives advice on how people may donate safely. Prosecutions are a matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
26W
Defendants prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted1 at all courts for violent offences against children, 1993–97 England and Wales Number of persons Prosecutions Offences 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Indictable Offences Violence against the person Murder of Infant under 1 year of age 12 10 11 15 14 Infanticide 2 1 1 1 — Child destruction — 1 1 — — Cruelty to, or neglect of children 380 470 519 505 608 Abandoning children under 2 years 2 4 12 3 1 Child abduction 69 82 98 89 77 Concealment of Birth 4 3 — 2 1 Sexual offences Buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal 294 345 125 16 — Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under the age of 16 or with a woman or an animal 15 21 6 3 — Buggery by a male of a male under 162 5— 5— 48 66 107 Buggery by a male with a female under 162 5— 5— 25 26 35 Indecent assault on male person under 16 years 432 449 400 325 373 Gross indecency by a male aged 21 or over with a male aged under 183 5— 5— 10 9 30 Gross indecency by a male aged 18–20 with a male aged under 183 5— 5— 1 3 Rape of a female aged under 164 5— 5— 336 477 592 Rape of a male aged under 162 5— 5— 18 20 45 Attempted rape of a female aged under 164 5— 5— 32 44 74 Attempted rape of a male aged under 164 5— 5— — 4 5 Indecent assault on a female under 16 1,896 2,036 1,797 1,604 1,639 Unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 97 88 77 40 40 Incest with a girl under 52 41 22 26 14 Inciting girl under 16 to have incestuous sexual intercourse 2 5 3 2 7 Householder permitting unlawful sexual intercourse with girl under 8 — 4 4 3 Person responsible for girl under 16 causing or encouraging her prostitution etc. — 1 — 2 — Male aged 21 or over procuring or attempting to procure a male under 18 of gross indecency with another male3 5— 1 — 6 Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 13 27 11 9 6 Gross indecency with boys aged 14 and under 102 87 62 61 63 Gross indecency with girls aged 14 and under 155 129 109 97 109 Summary Offences Violent offences Cruelty to or neglect of children 3 7 3 4 4 Part II of the Charities Act 1992, which came into effect on 1 March 1995, contains important controls in relation to professional and commercial involvement in charitable fund-raising. Part III of the Act, which has yet to be brought into force, seeks to rationalise the provisions for the licensing of street collections and house to house collections currently contained in the Police, Factories Etc (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1916 and the House to House Collections Act 1939. Consideration is currently being given to the implementation of Part III.