HC Deb 07 February 1978 vol 943 cc494-5W
Sir M. Havers

asked the Attorney-General if he will list for 31st December 1972 and 31st December 1977 the numbers of (a) professional officers, (b) court clerks and (c) others employed in the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The Attorney-General

The numbers were:

31st December 1972 31st December 1977
(a) Professional officers (senior legal assistants and legal assistants) 43 51
(b) Court clerks 34 43
(c) Others 87 110

Sir M. Havers

asked the Attorney-General what was the total number of cases referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the years 1972 and 1977 (a) for advice or for prosecution, (b) complaints against the police and (c) others.

The Attorney-General

The numbers were:

1972 1977
(a) Advice on prosecution (excluding those in (b) and (c)) 8,006 7,877
(b) Complaints against police 5,401 9,117
(c) Others (e.g. appeals, criminal bankruptcy, Royal Parks cases) 1,377 711*
(d) Total 14,784 17,705
* During 1977 the Department ceased to conduct cases involving offences committed in the Royal parks

Sir M. Havers

asked the Attorney-General what was the average workload (a) for professional officers and (b) for court clerks in the years 1972 and 1977.

The Attorney-General

The figures were:

1972 1977
(a) Professional officers (senior legal assistants and legal assistants) 343 347
(b) Court clerks 43 40*
* Estimated, as the completed statistics are not yet available.

Sir M. Havers

asked the Attorney-General if he will list the number of professional officers employed in the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions on 31st December 1977, and on the same date in each of the preceding 10 years.

The Attorney-General

The complement of professional officers—senior legal assistants and legal assistants—was:

1967 34
1968 34
1969 37
1970 37
1971 37
1972 43
1973 44
1974 45
1975 45
1976 50
1977 51

Sir M. Havers

asked the Attorney-General what was the average workload for professional officers employed in the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions for the year 1977, and for each of the preceding 10 years.

The Attorney-General

The average workload* for professional officers—senior legal assistants and legal assistants—was:

1967 236
1968 274
1969 297
1970 322
1971 341
1972 343
1973 359
1974 329
1975 366
1976 345
1977 347
* These figures do not reflect a marked increase over the period referred to in the length and complexity of cases.

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