(Continued from page 104)
| Published date | 01 March 1947 |
| DOI | 10.1177/026455054700500808 |
| Date | 01 March 1947 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
105
IN PARLIAMENT
clerks were never permitted to act other than in an
advisory capacity.
BORSTAL
Mr. Ede replied that he understood that Mr. Yates had
The Home
Secretary stated that on December 10th there
in mind the question of expressions of opinion by clerks
were 2,393 boys and 205 girls in Borstal training institu-
to justices about the policy embodied in laws or regula-
tions, and 467 boys and 25 girls in Borstal reception
tions under which proceedings were taken before the
centres. On the subject off re-conviction after discharge
magistrates. The conduct of a clerk in court was a matter
from Borstal institutions, Mr. Ede gave the following
for the magistrates, whose servant he was. He had no
figures of boys re-convicted up to September, 1946:
reason to think that magistrates were not fully aware of
their responsibilities in that matter, and he did not
consider that any suggestions on his part were required
to inform them of those responsibilities.
Mr. Yates then asked the Minister if he thought that
specific advice should be tendered to the magistrates’
The 1939 figures were abnormal, due to the release on
clerk.
the outbreak of war of all Borstal inmates who had served
Mr. Ede replied in the negative. He thought the duty
not less than six months. Many had not completed their
of controlling the clerk must rest with the magistrates,
training ,and would not have been released so early but
and, when in court, particularly with the chairman. He
for the nec~essity of reducing the risk to persons in
hoped that the publicity which Mr. Yates’ question had
custody.
given to the matter would encourage some of those people
For girls, the available figures of re-conviction are
in
up to
suitable cases to correct the clerk when he interfere
December, 1943, only and are:
unduly with the course of justice.
Mr. Hector Hughes asked whether the Minister was
aware that, in some instances, the clerk retired with the
justices to their room and took part in their...
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