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Home Office

Answer

Mr. McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the minimum age for the detention of juveniles. [9269] Mr. Michael: The following custodial sentences are currently available to the courts for convicted juveniles: from the age of 10, detention during Her Majesty's pleasure for murder under section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933; and detention, up to the adult maximum, under section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 for grave crimes including those which are punishable in the case of an adult by 14 years' imprisonment or more. For juveniles aged 15 to 17, detention in a young offender institution for a maximum of two years is available for any offence for which an adult may be sentenced to imprisonment. Our aim is to provide the courts with a more coherent and flexible set of custodial powers than those left by the previous Government. In the meantime, we will press ahead with introducing the secure training order provided for in the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, to deal with 12 to 14-year-old persistent offenders who have not responded to punishment in the community. My right. hon. Friend announced on 3 July that he has commissioned a review of the secure accommodation currently available for young offenders and the youth justice task force will be advising Ministers on this issue. When the secure training order is implemented, the courts will have the following powers to impose custodial sentences: 10 to 17 detention during Her Majesty's pleasure for murder (section 53(1) Children and Young Persons Act 1993): 10 and 11-years-olds section 53(2) custody, up to the adult maximum, for grave offences; 12, 13 and 14-year-olds section 53(2) custody, up to the adult maximum for grave offences, and the secure training order (STO) for up to two years, for less serious but persistent offending; 15, 16 and 17-year-olds section 53(2) custody, up to the adult maximum for grave offences, and detention of up to two years in a young offender institution for any other impressionable offence.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

9269; 298 c650-1W;298 c648-50W

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Custodial treatment Sentencing Young offenders Secure accommodation Secure training centres Young offender institutions