§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2000,Official Report, column 561W, on the home detention curfew scheme, what specific offences are defined as (a) other homicide and attempted homicide, (b) other motoring offences and (c) other offences; how many offenders were released having been convicted of each specific offence; and if he will make a statement. [116482]
§ Mr. BoatengFurther details of the offences defined as other homicide and attempted homicide, other motoring offences and other offences, and the number of prisoners convicted of each type of offence who have been released on home detention curfew are shown in the table.
No eligible prisoner can be granted home detention curfew without first passing a risk assessment. The risk assessment addresses the risk to the public and the likelihood of the prisoner re-offending during his time on curfew. The details of the offence in each case will be known to the establishment before a risk assessment and release on home detention curfew can take place. The nature of the current offence, together with previous offending history, are important factors that are taken into account in assessing a prisoner's suitability for the scheme. Prisons have been instructed that prisoners who present a clear and immediate threat to the public must not be released on home detention curfew.
10W
Offence Number Other homicide and attempted homicide Attempted murder 5 Threats to kill 29 Conspiracy, aid and incite murder 1 Death by reckless driving 115 Total 150
Offence Number Other motoring offences Other motoring offences1 1,239 Reckless driving 291 Total 1,530 Other offences Procuration 4 False imprisonment 22 Bail Act offences 4 Assisting illegal immigrant 49 Minor firearms offences 6 Other indictable offences2 548 Escaping lawful custody 6 Making off without paying 2 Criminal attempts 7 Contempt of court 1 Deportee/detainee 4 Vagrancy Act offences 2 Cruelty etc. to animals 18 Total 673 1 Recorded under this code by individual establishments 2 Other indicatable offences
§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2000,Official Report, columns 561-62W, on the home detention curfew scheme, how many offenders who committed further offences while on the scheme committed an offence similar in character to that for which they were originally convicted; if he will provide a breakdown by type of offence of such offenders; and if he will make a statement. [116479]
§ Mr. BoatengAccording to Prison Service records, of the 185 curfewees referred to in the reply I gave on 22 March 2000,Official Report, columns 561-62W, who have been charged with a further offence while subject to home detention curfew, 74 have been charged with an offence similar to that for which they were serving a 11W sentence of imprisonment prior to being released on curfew. The table gives a breakdown of the types of offences committed.
One of the factors addressed in the home detention curfew risk assessment is the likelihood of the prisoner re-offending during his time on curfew. If the offender's past history and current circumstances suggest that there is a probability that he will return to offending within the curfew period, release must be refused.
An evaluation of the home detention curfew scheme is being carried out by the Research, Development and Statistics Directorate of the Home Office. It will include an analysis of reconviction of curfewees both during and after the curfew period. Results will be published later this year.
Offences committed by curfewees Number Burglary 20 Theft 16 Driving/Motoring offences 12 Assault 9 Drug offences 5 Deception 3 Wounding 3 Robbery 2 Breach of Probation Order 1 Threats to kill 1 False Imprisonment 1 Affray 1 Total 74
§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2000,Official report, column 561W, on the home detention curfew scheme, how many offenders charged with a further offence committed while on the scheme have been convicted of such an offence; if he will provide a breakdown by type of offence; and if he will make a statement. [116480]
§ Mr. BoatengInformation is not held centrally on the convictions of those who have committed offences while subject to home detention curfew.
§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 March 2000,Official Report, column 561W, on the home detention curfew scheme, for what reason the original offence committed by 1,001 offenders released on the scheme was not recorded; and if he will make a statement. [116481]
§ Mr. BoatengThe statistics on the original offences committed by prisoners released on home detention curfew are taken from the Prison Service computer database, known as the Inmate Information System, and are based on the data entered by each prison. Where offence data are not completed by the prison, the category "offence not recorded" is used at the centre. At a local level, the details of the offence in each case will be known to the establishment before a risk assessment and release on home detention curfew can take place. In assessing a12W prisoner's suitability for release on the scheme, the nature of the offence is an important factor to be taken into account.
Efforts are made to ensure the completeness and accuracy of all data as far as practicable, but there are inevitable errors of omission and commission. Guidance is being issued to establishments stressing the importance of recording the data on original offences as quickly as possible in every case.
§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum sentence that may be passed on an offender who is eligible for release on the home detention curfew scheme. [116475]
§ Mr. BoatengUnder the Criminal Justice Act 1991, as amended by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, no prisoner who has been sentenced to four years or more imprisonment is eligible for release under the home detention curfew scheme.