§ Mr. BlairTo ask the Attorney-General how many cases were discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service in each year since the instigation of the Crown Prosecution Service.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe number of defendants whose case was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service in magistrates' courts since 1987 was as follows:
Number 1987–88 108,900 1988–89 120,714 1989–90 140,313 1990–91 151,236 1991–92 174,411 1992–93 193,774 1993–94 168,707 These figures include proceedings dropped at court as well as those discontinued by way of notice under section 23 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. The figures comprise all cases dealt with by the CPS areas, but do not include the specialised casework handled by the headquarters of the service.
§ Mr. BlairTo ask the Attorney-General how many cases were(a) received by the Crown Prosecution Service from the police, (b) completed in the magistrates court, (c) discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service before or at the magistrates court hearing, (d) committed to the Crown court by the magistrates court or (e) otherwise disposed in each Crown Prosecution Service region for the year April 1993 to April 1994.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe table shows the number of defendants' cases dealt with by the 13 areas of the Crown Prosecution Service during the year ending March 1994. The figures do not include the specialised casework undertaken by the headquarters of the service.
The number received comprises all those forwarded to the CPS by the police during the year, and the number 97W finalised comprises all those completed during the year. Both totals include non-criminal proceedings, such as forfeiture proceedings under section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959, and cases forwarded to the CPS by the police for pre-charge advice; the number of these is specified.
Cases completed in magistrates' courts comprise all defendants whose cases proceeded to either trial or guilty plea.
Magistrates' Courts Cases 1993–94 CPS Area Received Finalised of which: Advice only Completed in Magistrates' Court Discontinued Committed to Crown Court Other disposals Other proceedings North 101,284 101,576 4,094 68,212 13,769 7,246 6,773 1,476 Yorkshire 82,460 80,857 3,652 52,925 11,860 7,844 3,832 750 Mersey/Lancashire 90,333 89,546 3,014 62,982 8,971 8,815 4,851 913 Humber 73,500 71,386 7,268 46,360 7,988 5,673 2,226 1,871 North West 126,665 123,766 3,388 87,454 11,681 9,002 6,177 6,064 East Midlands 89,898 88,417 6,608 58,080 10,962 6,097 5,118 1,552 Wales 103,183 111,736 6,298 69,190 11,119 5,764 17,111 2,254 Midlands 115,623 117,330 5,443 74,001 13,503 8,426 13,755 2,202 Anglia 114,784 112,429 9,468 76,544 9,831 6,787 7,735 2,064 Severn/Thames 96,695 97,602 4,934 65,642 11,422 4,875 8,825 1,904 South West 75,873 75,002 2,884 52,581 8,714 5,003 4,912 908 London 276,913 274,524 9,892 150,954 36,208 19,217 53,968 4,284 South East 112,085 110,068 5,203 76,128 12,679 7,800 7,404 855 Total Areas 1,459,296 1,454,239 72,146 941,053 168,707 102,549 142,687 27,097 Notes:
Other disposals comprise committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, cases where the defendant was bound over to keep the peace, instances where the defendant cannot be found, and other cases where the prosecution cannot proceed (e.g. through the death of the defendant).
Other proceedings comprise non-criminal proceedings, such as forfeiture hearings under Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act.
§ Mr. BatesTo ask the Attorney-General when he expects the Director of Public Prosecutions to publish the revised code for Crown prosecutors.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe review of the code for Crown Prosecutors, which I announced in House on the 14 December 1993,Official Report, column 1049, is now complete. The revised code is set out in full in the annual report of the Crown Prosecution Service, which was laid before Parliament at 11 am today and then published. Copies of the code have been printed and are now available for distribution. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
The fundamental principles of the code have not changed, but the new code is substantially shorter and has been rewritten in straightforward English. The requirement for a realistic prospect of conviction has been clarified and the public interest factors in favour of a prosecution have been brought out more clearly.
I welcome the revised code and commend it to all prosecuting authorities.
§ Mr. BatesTo ask the Attorney-General when he expects to lay before Parliament and to publish the annual report of the Crown Prosecution Service for the year 1993–94.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe annual report for the Crown Prosecution Service was laid before Parliament at 11 am today and then published.
Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
98WDiscontinuances are inclusive of proceedings dropped in court as well as those which were the subject of a notice under section 23 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985.
Cases committed comprise all those committed for trial in the Crown court during the period.
Other disposals comprise the remaining completed cases: committal hearings in which the defendant was discharged, defendants bound over to keep the peace without a trial having taken place, and cases in which the prosecution could not proceed, for example because the defendant had died or could not be traced.