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HOME DEPARTMENT

Police Officers (Ethnic Minorities)

Mr. MacShane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers from an Asian or Afro-Caribbean background hold the rank of (a) chief constable, (b) assistant chief constable and (c) chief superintendent. [74539]

Mr. Boateng: Currently there are (a) no Chief Constables, (b) one Assistant Chief Constable, (c) three Chief Superintendents (one currently on temporary promotion) and six Superintendents from an Asian or Afro-Caribbean background.

The rank of Chief Superintendent was abolished on 1 April 1995. At that time, the number of existing Chief Superintendents maintained their rank and a number of forces continue to use the designation.

Equine Welfare

Mr. Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations he has received from equine welfare organisations on the tethering of horses; [75122]

Mr. George Howarth: We have not received recent representations from equine welfare organisations about the tethering of horses.

The welfare of horses that are tethered is safeguarded by the general protection afforded by the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act 1988. Additional protection is provided by the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960.

Under the 1911 Act, it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animal. The Protection Against Cruel Tethering Act 1988 created a specific offence under the 1911 Act of causing unnecessary suffering to a horse by the manner of condition of its tethering. In addition, the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960 makes it an offence to abandon a domestic or captive animal, whether or not permanently, without reasonable excuse and in circumstances likely to cause suffering.

Mr. Alan Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were in England during 1998 of individuals for their ill treatment of horses. [75121]

Mr. Boateng: Information held on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database concerning offences under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 does not distinguish individual offences within the Act or identify the species of animal involved.

London Fire Brigade

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many firefighters in the London Fire Brigade are of black or ethnic minority origin; what

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proportion of the total they form; and what measures are planned to increase the number of black and ethnic minority firefighters in London. [75135]

Mr. George Howarth: At 31 March 1998, there were 5,771 firefighters on the operational strength of London Fire Brigade. Of these, 249 (4.3 per cent. of the total) classified themselves as black or from an ethnic minority group.

We have announced that targets will be set for the recruitment of ethnic minority groups into the Home Office and its services. All chief fire officers have been asked to set targets to improve black and ethnic minority representation to reflect the community their brigade serves. The London Fire and Civil Defence Authority has already taken a number of initiatives of its own to increase the numbers of black and ethnic minority firefighters in London.

Horses (Nutritional Deprivation)

Mr. Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons he granted a project licence for the study of the effects of nutritional deprivation in the womb of horses at the Equine Fertility Unit near Newmarket, with particular reference to the cost benefit test under section 5(4) of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; into what severity band the procedures were placed and for what reasons; and if he will review the application of the cost benefit test in relation to these procedures. [75174]

Mr. George Howarth: The project licence authorising this work was granted in 1994. The objectives of the research were to study pregnancy in mares to determine how genetic and growth factors might affect the nutrition of the foetus, given that poor nutrition of the developing foetus can result in abortion or the birth of poorly viable offspring. The potential benefits of the work are, therefore, to the welfare of horses. It is, however, possible that the results will also be beneficial to other species, including man.

The procedures on the horses entailed mainly non-surgical recovery of uterine material from pregnant and non-pregnant animals. This involved sedation but no general anaesthesia and the procedures were classified as being of mild severity. However, in the early work under the authority of this licence, some of the procedures also involved surgery, which was classified as being of moderate severity. The overall severity for the project licence is mild.

The relevant project licence is no longer in force. If further work is to be carried out in this area, a new application will have to be made and the costs and benefits will again be weighed before deciding whether to grant a new licence.

Criminal Memoirs

Mr. Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to prevent criminals profiting from the publication of (a) memoirs and (b) magazine and newspaper articles based on their criminal activities. [74879]

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Mr. Boateng: In the light of the concerns expressed last year after the publication of Gitta Sereny's book 'Cries Unheard' an inter-departmental group is considering the law relating to criminal memoirs, and whether it might sensibly be strengthened. The issues raised are difficult and complex, and include how the need to prevent criminals from benefiting by publishing details of their crimes and causing distress to victims and their families can be balanced against the rights to freedom of expression set out in the European Court of Human Rights and the Human Rights Act. The working group expects to report in the summer.

Sexual Assaults

Mr. Leigh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people aged (i) under 14, (ii) 14 to 17, (iii) 18 to 20, (iv) 21 to 40, (v) 41 to 64 and (vi) 65 years and over, convicted of the offence of rape of a man in each year from 1987 to 1997 were sentenced to immediate custody; [75034]

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Mr. Boateng: Available information is given in the tables. Information held on the Home Office Court Proceedings Database on the age of victims of the offence of indecent assault is restricted to identifying those 'under 16' and '16 and over'.

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Table A: Number of persons convicted at all courts for the offence of indecent assault on a male or female by sex and age of victim,
England and Wales, 1987-97

Offence/sex19871988198919901991199219931994199519961997
Indecent assault on a male person under 16 years of age
Males420455400413338356287316331349353
Females10568137688610
Indecent assault on a male person aged 16 years or over
Males76861011521139811284123124112
Females1--1--222------4
Indecent assault on a female person under 16 years of age
Males1,5421,6401,6431,5251,4581,3201,1931,3501,4401,5901,621
Females141014121111125676
Indecent assault on a female person aged 16 years or over
Males7558581,0091,036944925855847925818852
Females43534461645

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Table B: Number of persons convicted at all courts of the offence of male rape(3) by sex, age and result, England and Wales, 1995-97

Year/disposalAged 10-13Aged 14-17Aged 18-20Aged 21-40Aged 41-64Aged 65+All Ages
1995
Convicted
Male--2--52--9
Sentenced
Male--2--52--9
Immediate custody(4)
Male--2--52--9
1996
Convicted
Male19455--24
Sentenced
Male19455--24
Immediate custody(4)
Male--9455--23
1997
Convicted
Male1741514142
Sentenced
Male1641514141
Immediate custody(4)--541514139

(3) New offence created under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Prior to this defendants would have been charged with non-consensual buggery.

(4) Includes persons sentenced under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.


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Table C: Number of offenders cautioned for the offence of indecent assault on a male by sex and age, England and Wales, 1987-97

Age and Sex19871988198919901991199219931994199519961997
10-13
Male3338294443393535192518
Female73653215111
14-17
Male5462708383815464543034
Female44977744634
18-20
Male108102214221271075
Female32211732221
21-40
Male2727324038495747304020
Female1181011391371228
41-64
Male924132931226040302825
Female11----12--1--21
65+
Male1913241620162014141212
Female----------------------
All ages
Male152172178234229229238207157142114
Female2618272415272119211015

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Table D: Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates' courts for the offence of indecent assault on a male by sex and age,
England and Wales, 1987-97

Age and Sex19871988198919901991199219931994199519961997
10-13
Male563431711434
Female--------------1----2
14-17
Male4748464933423241495764
Female1--4----1--1123
18-20
Male3749584742482932231613
Female1----4--221----1
21-40
Male290306322331315280269231247159178
Female1697151111914111014
41-64
Male235244238288290243231262239206241
Female1--312354222
65+
Male3435343338253742332820
Female----------------------
All ages
Male678688701752721639605619595469520
Female199152013171621141422

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Table E: Number of offenders convicted (5) at all courts for the offence of indecent assault on a male by sex and age, England and Wales, 1987-97

Age and Sex19871988198919901991199219931994199519961997
10-13
Male43322 146--23
Female--------------------2
14-17
Male3337323224312226343944
Female1--1--------1122
18-20
Male2932443224242224182113
Female----132--1------1
21-40
Male232246202254188180168160174172163
Female854512757649
41-64
Male172192193211184197155165230208221
Female2--1--122--2----
65+
Male2631273429222920253121
Female----------------------
All ages
Male496541501565451455400401481473465
Female11578159889614

(5) Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences


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Table F: Number of males convicted at all courts for the offence of indecency between males by sex, age and result, England and Wales, 1987-97

Year/disposalAged 10-13Aged 14-17Aged 18-20Aged 21-40Aged 41-64Aged 65+All ages
1987
Convicted--94252335324951
Sentenced--94252235324950
Immediate custody(6)(7)--1--1911--31
1988
Convicted--1252645553711,333
Sentenced--1252645553711,333
Immediate custody(6)(7)------812--20
1989
Convicted11546772606631,503
Sentenced11546772605631,502
Immediate custody(6)(7)--21137--23
1990
Convicted--1436532427371,046
Sentenced--1436530429371,046
Immediate custody(6)(7)------65--11
1991
Convicted--51534923226627
Sentenced--51534923126626
Immediate custody(6)(7)------56--11
1992
Convicted--32029823027578
Sentenced--32029823127579
Immediate custody(6)(7)--1--43--8
1993
Convicted----619216922389
Sentenced----619116921387
Immediate custody(6)(7)------42--6
1994
Convicted--4822622616480
Sentenced--4822622616480
Immediate custody(6)(7)------3418
1995
Convicted--3320317625410
Sentenced--3320317625410
Immediate custody(6)------512118
1996
Convicted--24108978219
Sentenced--24108978219
Immediate custody(6)------31--4
1997
Convicted----311210517237
Sentenced----311210417236
Immediate custody(6)------33--6

(6) Includes persons sentenced under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933

(7) Not applicable

Note:

In some cases total sentenced is higher than total convicted--this will include persons convicted at magistrates' courts but sentenced at a later date at the Crown Court


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Table G: Number of offenders cautioned and convicted at all courts for specific sexual offences for the years 1985 and 1995 and showing percentage change, England and Wales

Cautioned Convicted
Offence19851995% change19851995% change
Indecent assault on a female under 16970670-311,4461,4460
Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 161,155400-65395203-49
Indecent assault on a male under 16146137-6528339-36
Gross indecency with a girl under 144630-3516099-38
Unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 135841-2911081-26
Gross indecency with a boy under 141628+7510656-47
Buggery of a male under 16(8)2211-50167129-23
Incest2114-3312848-63

(8) For 1995 may include buggery of a woman or animal


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