§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration has been given to ending the right to anonymity of victims in rape trials; what current provisions govern this right; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacleanAnonymity for complainants in rape trials is governed by the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976.
The Government are committed to ensuring that victims of all sexual offences are encouraged to report these crimes and are well treated by the criminal justice system when they do so. In 1992, the Government supported private Member's legislation—now the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992—which extended the right to anonymity to victims of all sexual offences.
709WHowever, the Government recognise that difficult questions can arise when a defendant is acquitted and there has been substantial publicity surrounding the case. My right hon. and learned Friend has recently indicated his intention to review the arguments for and against the current anonymity provisions as they relate both to complainants and defendants.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people have been tried on
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Males tried at the Crown Court and found guilty at all courts of rape offences by type of offence and type of court 1985 to 19921 England and Wales Found guilty Class Year/Description Act and section Tried at the Crown Court Magistrates' courts Crown Court All courts 1985 19.02 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who is a defective Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 7 as amended by Mental Health Act 1959 section 127 4 — 4 4 19.03 Male member of staff of hospital or mental nursing home having unlawful sexual intercourse with a female patient Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(l)(a) — — — — 19.04 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with mentally disordered female patient who is subject to his care Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(1)(b) 1 — 1 1 19.05 Rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 474 1 338 339 19.06 Attempted rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 86 7 75 82 Total 565 8 418 426 1986 19.02 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who is a defective Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 7 as amended by Mental Health Act 1959 section 127 7 — 6 6 19.03 Male member of staff of hospital or mental nursing home having unlawful sexual intercourse with a female patient Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(l)(a) — — — — 19.04 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with mentally disordered female patient who is subject to his care Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(l)(b) — — — — 19.05 Rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 503 — 329 329 19.06 Attempted rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 80 2 63 65 Total 590 2 398 400 1987 19.02 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who is a defective Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 7 as amended by Mental Health Act 1959 section 127 5 — 5 5 19.03 Male member of staff of hospital or mental nursing home having unlawful sexual intercourse with a female patient Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(l)(a) — — — — 19.04 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with mentally disordered female patient who is subject to his care Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(1 )(b) 1 — 1 1 19.05 Rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 551 2 347 349 19.06 Attempted rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 89 — 70 70 Total 646 2 423 425 1988 19.02 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who is a defective Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 7 as amended by Mental Health Act 1959 section 127 7 — 6 6 charges of (a) rape and (b) attempted rape (i) in the current year using the most recent statistics and (ii) for each preceding year from 1985, inclusive;
(2) how many people have been found guilty of (a) rape and (b) attempted rape (i) in the current year, using the most recent available statistics and (ii) for each preceding year from 1985, inclusive.
Mr. McleanInformation from 1985 to 1992—which is provisional—is given in the table. The 1993 data will not be available until the autumn of 1994.
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Found guilty Class Year/Description Act and section Tried at the Crown Court Magistrates' courts Crown Court All courts 19.03 Male member of staff of hospital or mental nursing home having unlawful sexual intercourse with a female patient Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(l)(a) 1 — 1 1 19.04 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with mentally disordered female patient who is subject to his care Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(l)(b) — — — — 19.05 Rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 670 2 411 413 19.06 Attempted rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 114 — 79 79 Total 792 2 497 499 1989 19.02 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who is a defective Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 7 as amended by Mental Health Act 1959 section 127 6 — 4 4 19.03 Male member of staff of hospital or mental nursing home having unlawful sexual intercourse with a female patient Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(l)(a) 1 — 1 1 19.04 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with mentally disordered female patient who is subject to his care Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(l)(b) 1 — 1 1 19.05 Rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 777 3 468 471 19.06 Attempted rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 139 1 110 111 Total 924 4 584 588 1990 19.02 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who is a defective Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 7 as amended by Mental Health Act 1959 section 127 8 — 7 7 19.03 Male member of staff of hospital or mental nursing home having unlawful sexual intercourse with a female patient Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(l)(a) 1 — 1 1 19.04 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with mentally disordered female patient who is subject to his care Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(1)(b) — — — — 19.05 Rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 799 1 454 455 19.06 Attempted rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 103 2 76 78 Total 911 3 538 541 1991 19.02 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who is a defective Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 7 as amended by Mental Health Act 1959 section 127 8 — 5 5 19.03 Male member of staff of hospital or mental nursing home having unlawful sexual intercourse with a female patient Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(l)(a) 2 — 2 2 19.04 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with mentally disordered female patient who is subject to his care Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(l)(b) — — — — 19.05 Rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 842 1 465 466 19.06 Attempted rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 102 — 64 64 Total 954 1 536 537 19921 19.02 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman who is a defective Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 7 as amended by Mental Health Act 1959 section 127 6 — 4 4 19.03 Male member of staff of hospital or mental nursing home having unlawful sexual intercourse with a female patient Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(l)(a) 1 — 1 1
Found guilty Class Year/Description Act and section Tried at the Crown Court Magistrates' courts Crown Court All courts 19.04 Man having unlawful sexual intercourse with mentally disordered female patient who is subject to his care Mental Health Act 1959 section 128(1)(b) 1 — 1 1 19.05 Rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 827 1 424 425 19.06 Attempted rape Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 1 96 — 61 61 Other2 — 1 — 1 Total — 931 2 491 493 1 Provisional. 2 Details of offence not known.
§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of(a) rape and (b) attempted rape are recorded in (i) the most recent crime statistics for the current year and (ii) for each preceding year from 1985, inclusive.
§ Mr. MacleanFigures for attempted rape are included in the rape offence classification and are not separately available. There were 4,142 recorded rapes in England and Wales in 1992. Figures for 1985–91 are published in table 2.16 of "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, 1991", a copy of which is available in the Library.