HC Deb 29 July 1983 vol 46 cc692-7W
Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the average original sentences given, and the average sentences served, for the offences of arson, rape, the murder of a police officer, the murder of a prison officer and terrorist offences, respectively, in respect of persons convicted over the longest period for which figures are conveniently available.

Mr. Mellor

[pursuant to his reply, 27 July, c. 468]: The readily available information about offences of arson and rape is given in the following table. Information on offences other than murder associated with terrorism is not readily available because offences are not classified generally by the circumstances in which the offence was committed. The mandatory sentence for murder is life. During the three years 1980–82 no persons were released on licence from a life sentence for murder of a policeman or for murder attributed to an act of terrorism. During this period one person was released on licence from a life sentence for murder of a prison officer: he had spent over 16 years in custody under sentence in prison department establishments.

Mr. Mellor

[pursuant to his reply, 21 July 1983, c. 191]: The available information is given in the following six tables. Corresponding information for 1982 will become available later this year.

six tables. Corresponding information for 1982 will become available later this year.

TABLE 1
Offences currently recorded* as homicide in the Metropolitan Police District by apparent method of killing and police district. 1977
Number of offences
Police district Method
Sharp instrument Blunt instrument Hitting, Kicking etc. Strangulation or asphyxiation Shooting Explosion Burning† Drowning Poison or drugs Motor vehicle‡ Other Not known Total
A. City of Westminster—part 1 1
B. Kensington and Chelsea 3 2 1 6
C. City of Westminster—part 1 1 2
D. City of Westminster—part 1 1 1 1 5 9
E. Camden 1 1 4 6
F. Hammersmith 1 1
G. Hackney 3 2 1 6
H. Tower Hamlets 1 1 1 1 4
J. Waltham Forest and Redbridge 1 1
K. Havering, Barking and Newham 4 3 3 1 1 12
L. Lambeth 7 1 2 2 12
M. Southwark 4 2 3 9
N. Islington 1 1 1 3
P. Lewisham and Bromley 3 5 1 1 10
Q. Brent and Harrow 4 1 1 6
R. Greenwich and Bexley 1 1 2
S. Barnet and Hertsmere 3 1 1 5
T. Richmond and Hounslow 1 1
V. Kingston, Merton and Esher 1 1 2
W. Wandsworth 4 2 6
X. Ealing and Hillingdon 2 1 1 1 5
Y. Haringey and Enfield 2 1 2 1 6
Z. Croydon, Sutton, Epsom and Ewell 2 1 2 1 6
Airport Division
Thames Division
Total 47 21 20 18 7 2 3 1 2 121
* As at 1 June 1983
† includes all homicides which occurred in fires, whatever the actual cause of death.

TABLE 2
Offences currently recorded* as homicide in the Metropolitan Police District by apparent method of killing and police district, 1978
Number of offences
Police district Method
Sharp instrument Blunt instrument Hitting, Kicking etc. Strangulation or asphyxiation Shooting Explosion Burning† Drowning Poison or drugs Motor vehicle‡ Other Not known Total
A. City of Westminster—part 3 3
B. Kensington and Chelsea 1 1 1 2 1 6
C. City of Westminster—part 1 3 2 6
D. City of Westminster—part 1 1
E. Camden 1 2 1 4
F. Hammersmith 1 1
G. Hackney 2 2 4
H. Tower Hamlets 3 2 5
J Waltham Forest and Redbridge 4 1 1 6
K. Havering, Barking and Newham 3 1 1 5
L. Lambeth 6 2 1 9
M. Southwark 3 1 2 6
N. Islington 1 1 1 3
P. Lewisham and Bromley 3 1 3 1 8
Q. Brent and Harrow 2 2
R. Greenwich and Bexley 2 1 1 4
S. Barnet and Hertsmere 1 1
T. Richmond and Hounslow 1 1 2
V. Kingston, Merton and Esher 1 1 1 3
W. Wandsworth 3 1 1 5
X. Ealing and Hillingdon 2 1 2 1 6
Y. Haringey and Enfield 2 1 2 5
Z. Croydon, Sutton, Epsom and Ewell 2 2
Airport Division 1 1
Thames Division
Total 45 7 20 9 9 2 4 1 1 98
* As at 1 June 1983
† Includes all homicides which occurred in fires, whatever the actual cause of death.
‡ Excluding death by reckless driving.

TABLE 3
Offences currently recorded* as homicide in the Metropolitan Police District by apparent method of killing and police district, 1979
Number of offences
Police district Method
Sharp instrument Blunt instrument Hitting. Kicking etc. Strangulation or asphyxiation Shooting Explosion Burning† Drowning Poison or drugs Motor vehicle‡ Other Not known Total
A. City of Westminster— part 1 1 2
B. Kensington and Chelsea 3 1 3 1 8
C. City of Westminster—part 1 1 5 1 8
D. City of Westminster—part 3 1 1 1 6
E. Camden 3 1 1 5
F. Hammersmith 1 1 2
G. Hackney 4 1 2 2 1 10
H. Tower Hamlets 3 2 1 2 8
J. Waltham Forest and Redbridge 6 3 2 1 1 13
K. Havering, Barking and Newham 7 1 1 9
L, Lambeth 2 3 1 6

Police district Method
Sharp instrument Blunt instrument Hitting. Kicking etc. Strangulation or asphyxiation Shooting Explosion Burning Drowning Poison or drugs Motor vehicle Other Not known Total
M. Southwark 4 2 3 1 1 11
N. Islington 2 1 1 4 8
P. Lewisham and Bromley 5 1 6
Q. Brent and Harrow 4 1 3 8
R. Greenwich and Bexley 1 1 1 1 4
S. Barnet and Hertsmere 3 1 1 1 6
T. Richmond and Hounslow 2 2 2 2 1 9
V. Kingston, Merton and Esher 1 1 2
W. Wandsworth 6 1 7
X. Ealing and Hillingdon 3 2 5
Y. Haringey and Enfield 3 2 1 2 8
Z. Croydon, Sutton, Epsom and Ewell 2 1 1 1 5
Airport Division
Thames Division
Total 69 13 24 21 11 1 8 1 6 2 156
* As at 1 June 1983
† Includes all homicides which occurred in fires, whatever the actual cause of death.
‡ Excluding death by reckless driving.

TABLE 4
Offences currently recorded* as homicide in the Metropolitan Police District by apparent method of killing and police district, 1980
Number of offences
Police district Method
Sharp instrument Blunt instrument Hitting. Kicking etc. Strangulation or asphyxiation Shooting Explosion Burning† Drowning Poison or drugs Motor vehicle‡ Other Not known Total
A. City of Westminster—part 1 1 3 5
B. Kensington and Chelsea 2 1 3
C. City of Westminster—part 2 2
D. City of Westminster—part 1 2 1 4
E. Camden 1 2 2 37 1 43
F. Hammersmith 2 1 1 2 6
G. Hackney 3 1 2 1 7
H. Tower Hamlets 3 1 1 1 6
J. Waltham Forest and Redbridge 1 1
K. Havering, Barking and Newham 7 1 1 9
L. Lambeth 8 1 5 14
M. Southwark 2 2 3 1 1 9
N. Islington 2 1 1 2 6
P. Lewisham and Bromley 3 1 1 4 9
Q. Brent and Harrow 1 4 10 15
R. Greenwich and Bexley 2 2 3 2 9
S. Barnet and Hertsmere 2 2
T. Richmond and Hounslow 3 3 1 7
V. Kingston, Merton and Esher 1 1
W. Wandsworth 2 1 1 4
X. Ealing and Hillingdon 2 3 3 1 9
Y. Haringey and Enfield 3 1 4 2 10
Z. Croydon, Sutton, Epsom and Ewell 2 1 3
Airport Division
Thames Division
Total 55 16 28 22 6 53 1 2 1 184
* As at 1 June 1983
† Includes all homicides which occurred in fires, whatever the actual cause of death.
‡ Excluding death by reckless driving.

TABLE 5
Offences currently recorded* as homicide in the Metropolitan Police District by apparent method of killing and police district, 1981
Number of offences
Police district Method
Sharp instrument Blunt instrument Hitting. Kicking etc. Strangulation or asphyxiation Shooting Explosion Burning† Drowning Poison or drugs Motor vehicle‡ Other Not known Total
A. City of Westminster—part 1 1 2 4
B. Kensington and Chelsea 3 3
C. City of Westminster—part
D. City of Westminster—part 1 1 2
E. Camden 5 1 1 7
F. Hammersmith
G. Hackney 8 3 1 12
H. Tower Hamlets 2 1 1 4
J. Waltham Forest and Redbridge 1 1 1 2 4 9
K. Havering, Barking and Newham 1 1 2
L. Lambeth 8 1 1 2 1 13
M. Southwark 2 1 3
N. Islington 2 1 1 1 5
P. Lewisham and Bromley 1 1 4 6 12
Q. Brent and Harrow 1 1 1 3
R. Greenwich and Bexley 1 1 2
S. Barnet and Hertsmere 1 1 2
T. Richmond and Hounslow 1 2 1 4
V. Kingston, Merton and Esher 2 1 1 4
W. Wandsworth 3 3
X. Ealing and Hillingdon 3 1 1 3 8
Y. Haringey and Enfield 2 1 2 1 1 7
Z. Croydon, Sutton, Epsom and Ewell 2 1 1 4
Airport Division 1 1

Police district Method
Sharp instrument Blunt instrument Hitting. Kicking etc. Strangulation or asphyxiation Shooting Explosion Burning† Drowning Poison or drugs Motor vehicle‡ Other Not known Total
Thames Division
Total 49 6 19 12 5 3 10 1 2 7 114
* As at 1 June 1983
† Includes all homicides which occurred in fires, whatever the actual cause of death.
‡ Excluding death by reckless driving.

TABLE 6
Offences currently* recorded as homicide in the Metropolitan Police District by result of court proceedings or other outcome
Number of offences
Offences currently* recorded as homicide 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
Decided by court to be homicide
Murder 30 25 39 35 29
Section 2 manslaughter 34 15 26 21 20
Other manslaughter 31 37 55 48 33
Infanticide 1 1 2 5 1
Total 96 78 122 109 83
Court decision pending 3
Proceedings not initiated or concluded without conviction
Suspect found by the court to be insane 2 1 2
Suspect died 4 1 1 3 7
Suspect committed suicide 4 8 5
Proceedings discontinued or not initiated 1 2 2 39
Total 11 4 11 49 7
Currently no suspect 14 16 23 26 21
Total offences currently recorded as homicide 121 98 156 184 114
* As at 1 June 1983.

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