Category A Prisoners (Hansard, 2 December 1985)

§ Mr. McNamara
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of category A prisoners at present held in Her Majesty's prisons; and how many of those prisoners have been convicted of offences connected with the present troubles in Northern Ireland both as an absolute figure and as a percentage, indicating those so convicted who give their place of origin as the Republic of Ireland, the six counties of Northern Ireland, England and Wales, Scotland or elsewhere, respectively, for the current year and each year since 1979.

§ Mr. Mellor
As at 12 November 1985 there were 315 convicted prisoners held in prison custody in England and Wales confirmed in category 'A'. Of these, 45, or 14.28 per cent. were convicted of terrorist offences relating to the present situation in Northern Ireland; 29 were born in Northern Ireland, 12 in the Republic of Ireland, three in England and one in Scotland. Similar information for earlier years is not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. McNamara
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the number of prisoners in category A who have been held in single cellular

Persons convicted of homicide by outcome of proceedings

England and Wales Number

Year Offences initially recorded as homicide Persons convicted of

Murder Section† Manslaughter Other Manslaughter Infanticide

1955–64 2,891 384 ^*250 †n/a †n/a

1965–74 4,317 832 654 †1,211 †l30

1975–84‡ 5,685 1,357 884 1,766 65

^* 1957–1964. The Homicide Act 1957 came into effect on 21 March 1957; section 2 introduced the defence of diminished responsibility.

† Figures on the basis of offences initially recorded as homicide are not available before 1967.

‡ For offences recorded in 1984, there were 144 persons who had been committed for trial for homicide and for whom the outcome of proceedings was not yet known.

n/a Not available.

Persons convicted of homicide by outcome of proceedings
England and Wales	Number
Year	Offences initially recorded as homicide		Persons convicted of
		Murder	Section† Manslaughter	Other Manslaughter	Infanticide
1955–64	2,891	384	^*250	†n/a	†n/a
1965–74	4,317	832	654	†1,211	†l30
1975–84‡	5,685	1,357	884	1,766	65
^* 1957–1964. The Homicide Act 1957 came into effect on 21 March 1957; section 2 introduced the defence of diminished responsibility.
† Figures on the basis of offences initially recorded as homicide are not available before 1967.
‡ For offences recorded in 1984, there were 144 persons who had been committed for trial for homicide and for whom the outcome of proceedings was not yet known.
n/a Not available.