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Homicide: Young People

Volume 457: debated on Monday 5 March 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murders in England and Wales were committed by individuals under the age of 25 in each of the last five years. (122605)

Available data relate to currently recorded offences of homicide (murder, manslaughter and infanticide) between 2001-02 and 2005-06, where the principal suspect is aged under 25 is given in the following table:

Offences currently1, 2 recorded as homicide where the principal suspect is aged under 25, England and Wales, 2001-02 to 2005-06

Number of victims

2001-02

217

2002-03

187

2003-04

214

2004-05

239

2005-06

250

1 As at 9 October 2006; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. 2 Offences are shown according to the year in which the police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made.