To ask the Minister of Justice (i) to detail the number of children, aged between 10 and 17 inclusive, that have been charged with (a) serious sexual assault; (b) rape; and (c) murder, in the last five years: and (ii) to detail the number of children that have been found guilty of those said crimes.

The Department of Justice does not hold information on the number of people charged for offences by the PSNI. The recording of information in relation to people charged for offences by police is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

You may, therefore, wish to direct any query relating to the issues raised in the question to the PSNI.

In relation to part (ii) of the question, information on the number of convictions at courts for the offences specified, in the period 2019 to 2023, the most recent year for which statistics are available, has been provided.

Convictions at courts for serious sexual assault, rape and murder where the defendant was under 18, 2019 - 2023

Notes:

1. Figures relate to initial disposal at courts. Appeals are not included.

2. Age is at date case was dealt with.

3. Figures for serious sexual assaults relate to sexual offences, other than rape, that were dealt with at Crown Court.

4. Figures for murder and rape relate to convictions for substantive versions of the offence only.

* means a figure of less than 3 has been treated under rules of disclosure.

# means a figure of 3 or more has been treated to prevent disclosure of a small number elsewhere.