§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the cost to its budget in relation to theft in each year since 1995–96; how many prosecutions in each year were brought against(a) military personnel, (b) civilian personnel and (c) others on charges of theft of MoD 413W property, stating in each case the amount involved and the outcome of the prosecution; and if he will make a statement. [126687]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 22 June 2000]The reported estimated annual costs of theft for the financial years 1995–96 to 1999–2000 inclusive are as follows:
- 1995–96: £173,329
- 1996–97: £231,033
- 1997–98: £491,215
- 1998–99: £141,141
- 1999–2000: £149,891.
No abatement is made for subsequent recoveries. These figures relate to a combination of suspected and proven thefts with estimated values refined from time to time as investigations, sometimes lasting a year or more, reach a conclusion. Those cases currently brought to a conclusion involve a range of outcomes and include prosecutions resulting in custodial sentences, dismissal, fines or probation as defined by the Treasury. The reported figures for these prosecutions brought against MOD staff are as set out:
1995-96
There were five prosecutions involving civilians and one involving military personnel. Three civilians were fined £796 each and given community service following a theft valued at £1,592. Another civilian was dismissed, after a court case, for a theft valued at £8,300 while another received a five-day suspension without pay following a theft of unknown value. The military case resulted in a prosecution at Magistrates Court and a fine, followed by dismissal, for a case valued at £294.1996–97
There were two prosecutions involving civilians and five involving military personnel. A civilian was fined £350 and dismissed following a theft where all property was recovered. In another civilian case a police caution was issued following a theft of unknown value. The military cases involved one theft valued at £1,500 resulting in probation for one year, a theft valued at £5,781 resulting in a verdict of gross negligence and a fine of £735, a theft valued at £2,721 resulting in a fine of £300, summary trial resulting in a fine of £300 for a theft valued at £60, and a fine of £25 for a theft of unknown value.1997–98
There were three prosecutions involving civilians and four involving military personnel. Two civilians received custodial sentences following a theft valued at £320,000. Another civilian received a police caution for a case valued at £61.The military cases involved a case of eight months detention and dismissal for a case valued at £195, a theft valued at £190 leading to seven days detention plus stoppages of £17.50, a sentence of seven years imprisonment for a case where the value is not known but involved the theft of explosives, and a theft valued at £8,000 resulting in discharge from the service and 240 hours community service.1998–99
There was one prosecution involving a civilian and another involving a military person. The civilian case was valued at £3,000 and resulted in 12 months probation plus community service. The military case involved a charge of handling stolen goods valued at £10,000 and the payment of compensation valued at £283.1999–2000
There are no prosecutions currently reported for this year.