Murder (Hansard, 24 May 1979)

§ Mr. Mellor
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in each of the last 25 years.

§ Mr. Brittan
The figures for England and Wales for the years 1957–1978 inclusive are given in the following table. They include offenders aged under 18 at the time of the commission of the offence who were ordered to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure under section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933.

1957 22

1958 21

1959 36

1960 34

1961 44

1962 27

1963 42

1964 37

1965 42

1966 72

1967 63

1968 74

1969 75

1970 97

1971 97

234W

1972 79

1973 90

1974 112

1975 107

1976 104

1977 112

1978 123

(provisional)

Figures for the years before 1957 could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

§ Mr. Mellor
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are currently serving sentences of life imprisonment for murder with the length of time served specified in each case.

§ Mr. Brittan
The following is the information for England and Wales. The periods of detention are calculated from the date on which the prisoner was first remanded in custody in respect of the offence. The figures include persons detained during Her Majesty's pleasure under section 53(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 but not persons who had previously been released on licence and subsequently recalled to prison.

Complete years of detention Number

26 1

21 4

19 2

18 1

17 3

16 4

15 7

14 6

13 18

12 19

11 29

10 43

9 51

8 76

7 69

6 78

5 95

4 136

3 93

2 107

1 116

less than one year 72

Total 1,030

§ Mr. Mellor
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons sentenced to life imprisonment for murder have been released in each of the last 10 years with the length of time served in each case.

§ Mr. Brittan
The following is the information in respect of England and Wales.
235W

PERIODS OF DETENTION OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF MURDER RELEASED FROM PRISON DURING THE YEARS 1969–1978^*

Year of Release Completed Years For Which Detained Total

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 or more 27

1969 1 7 13 4 1 1

1970 1 1 3 12 6 1 24

1971 1 2 4 5 1 2 4 1 1 [24] 21

1972 1 1 1 4 8 2 3 2 1 1 24

1973 1 1 2 5 7 4 4 2 1 2 29

1974 1 1 1 1 2 4 12 5 2 3 1 2 35

1975 1 4 4 8 9 3 6 1 1 1 1 39

1976 3 6 9 13 12 8 1 3 1 2 2 2 62

1977 1 1 1 10 12 4 4 3 9 3 2 2 52

1978 1 2 17 8 10 12 8 12 1 3 74

Total — 1 2 4 6 6 45 58 91 63 33 39 10 11 9 3 2 3 — 1 387

^* The figures include persons detained during Her Majesty's pleasure under section 53(1) of the Children and Young. Persons Act 1933 but not persons who had been previously released on licence and subsequently recalled to prison.

236W 237W

§ Mr. Mellor
asked the secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder since 1969 in respect of whom a recommendation as to the minimum sentence to be served has been made by the trial judge.

§ Mr. Brittan
Eighty.

§ Mr. Mellor
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons who have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder since 1969, with a recommendation as to the minimum sentence to be served, have been released, stating in each case the recommended term and the length of sentence actually served.

§ Mr. Brittan
None.

1957	22
1958	21
1959	36
1960	34
1961	44
1962	27
1963	42
1964	37
1965	42
1966	72
1967	63
1968	74
1969	75
1970	97
1971	97

1972	79
1973	90
1974	112
1975	107
1976	104
1977	112
1978	123
	(provisional)

Complete years of detention	Number
26	1
21	4
19	2
18	1
17	3
16	4
15	7
14	6
13	18
12	19
11	29
10	43
9	51
8	76
7	69
6	78
5	95
4	136
3	93
2	107
1	116
less than one year	72
Total	1,030

PERIODS OF DETENTION OF PERSONS CONVICTED OF MURDER RELEASED FROM PRISON DURING THE YEARS 1969–1978^*
Year of Release	Completed Years For Which Detained	Total
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	or more	27
1969							1	7	13	4	1	1
1970				1			1	3	12	6		1										24
1971							1	2	4	5	1	2		4		1				1	[24]	21
1972				1		1	1	4	8	2	3	2	1		1							24
1973		1				1	2	5	7	4	4	2	1	2								29
1974			1	1	1	1	2	4	12	5	2	3		1	2							35
1975				1			4	4	8	9	3	6	1	1	1			1				39
1976					3		6	9	13	12	8	1	3	1	2		2	2				62
1977			1		1	1	10	12	4	4	3	9	3	2		2						52
1978					1	2	17	8	10	12	8	12	1		3							74
Total	—	1	2	4	6	6	45	58	91	63	33	39	10	11	9	3	2	3	—	1		387
^* The figures include persons detained during Her Majesty's pleasure under section 53(1) of the Children and Young. Persons Act 1933 but not persons who had been previously released on licence and subsequently recalled to prison.