Standing Civilian Courts

HC Deb 02 February 2000 vol 343 cc591-2W

Mr. Key

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average period which elapses between the commission of an offence and the date of the subsequent trial in standing civilian courts. [107870]

Mr. Spellar

[holding answer 1 February 2000]:

The Naval Service The Naval Service does not hold civilian standing courts.

The Army The average period between an offence being committed and the date of a trial in a subsequent standing civilian court is eight months for 1^st hearing (a guilty plea) and 10 months for 2^nd hearing (not guilty plea).

The RAF The average period between an offence being committed and the date of a trial in a subsequent standing civilian court is six months for 1^st hearing (guilty plea) and nine months for 2^nd hearing (not guilty plea).