§ Mr. LUTTRELLasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the statistice on page 152 of Part I. of 1833W Judicial Statistics for 1907, from which it appears that in that year 1,052 persons were detained in prisons in England and Wales awaiting trial for between eight and 12 weeks, of whom 90 were acquitted; that 377 were so detained for between 12 and 16 weeks, of whom 43 were acquitted; that 57 were so detained above 16 weeks, of whom nine were acquitted; whether he will give the corresponding figures for 1908; and whether he can and will take any steps to secure that persons shall not be kept awaiting trial for such long terms?
§ Mr. H. GLADSTONEI am aware of the figures which my hon. Friend correctly quotes. The following table gives the corresponding figures for the year 1908:—
I have no power to interfere in the matter beyond urging magistrates to admit to bail in as many cases as possible. This I have done repeatedly, and I believe justices are generally ready to grant bail in all cases where it can be done without serious risk of defeating the ends of justice. It must be remembered that many even of those acquitted are old offenders, who would certainly disappear if released on bail.
Length of Detention. Total awaiting Trial. Acquitted. 8 to 12 weeks 1,368 153 12 to 16 weeks 471 53 Above 16 weeks 126 23