HC Deb 30 March 2004 vol 419 cc1351-2W
Mr. Maude

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were sentenced in England and Wales for motoring offences, excluding those causing death or serious injury, in each of the last 10 years; how many of those received a custodial sentence; and what the average custodial sentence length was. [163242]

Caroline Flint

The information requested is contained in the table and gives the number of offenders sentenced, those sentenced to immediate custody, the custody rate and the average custodial sentence length at all courts for motoring offences, other than those causing death or injury, England and Wales 1993 to 2002.

Number of offenders sentenced1, sentenced to immediate custody, the custody rate and average custodial sentence length for motoring offences2 at all courts
England and Wales 1993 to 2002 Total offenders sentenced Sentenced to immediate custody3 Custody rate4 (percentage) Average custodial sentence length (months)
1993 675,868 9,280 1 3.7
1994 650,979 13,116 2 3.7
1995 653,671 14,766 2 3.7
1996 658,991 14,598 2 3.8
1997 658,822 15,967 2 3.8
1998 674,194 16,006 2 3.7
1999 641,160 17,412 3 3.8
2000 615,233 17,832 3 3.8
2001 591,220 18,867 3 3.9
2002 604,289 19,139 3 4.0
1 These data are on the principal offence basis.
2 Excludes offences involving death or injury, theft and unauthorised taking of motor vehicle and non-payment of vehicle excise licence.
3 Includes unsuspended imprisonment, secure training orders, S91-92 of the Powers of the Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 (replaced Section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933), partly suspended sentences, detention in a young offender institution and detention and training orders.
4 Proportion of offenders sentenced who were sentenced to immediate custody.

Statistics on court proceedings for 2003 will be published in the autumn.