§ 21. Mr. John Hallasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of motoring offences were tried during 1962; and in how many cases a plea of guilty was entered.
§ Mr. WoodhouseThe number of motoring offences dealt with by prosecution in 1962 was 989,812 and there were 953,600 findings of guilt. The number of persons prosecuted for these offences was 755,753, of whom 735,049 were found guilty. The statistics do not show the number of pleas of guilty.
§ Mr. HallDoes my hon. Friend appreciate that, in the overwhelming number of minor motoring offences, the solicitor will always advise his client to plead guilty because of the expense and difficulty of attending to defend a plea of not guilty, especially since, in many cases, the court in which one has to make an appearance may be a long way away? Does this not mean that the scales are already overwhelmingly in favour of the police in these cases and that we should attempt to set up some kind of court for trying motoring offences which will impose a much less financial burden on people who wish to enter and defend a plea of not guilty?
§ Mr. WoodhouseThat is an interesting and, to me, novel suggestion. I am sure that my right hon. Friend would be willing to give it thought.