§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many children have been prosecuted for arson in each of the last seven years. [169107]
(2) how many children have been prosecuted for arson under the influence of sniffing petrol in each of the last seven years. [169108]
§ Paul GogginsThe requested information on the number of persons aged 10 and under 18 years proceeded against for arson, England and Wales 1996 to 2002 is contained in the table.
It is not possible from the information collected centrally by the Home Office to identify the number of persons aged 10 and under 18 years who were proceeded against for arson, who had been under the influence of sniffing petrol.
Statistics on court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the autumn.
Number of persons aged 10 and under 18 years proceeded against at the magistrates; courts for arson—England and Wales 1996 to
2002
1Proceeded against 1996 708 1997 878 1998 823 1999 924 2000 1,005 2001 1,134 2002 1,064 1These data are on the principal offence basis