HL Deb 15 November 1979 vol 402 c1488WA
Lord DONALDSON of KINGS-BRIDGE

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proportion of those sentenced to imprisonment in 1978 were convicted of offences involving violence, sex, robbery, arson or drug trafficking.

Lord BELSTEAD

The information requested is given in the following table:

PERSONS SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT FOR CERTAIN OFFENCES AS A PERCENTAGE OF ALL PERSONS SO SENTENCED(1)
England and Wales 1978 Percentage
Imprisonment
Principal offence Immediate Suspended
Violence against the person 10 10
Sexual offences 3 2
Robbery … … 4 —(2)
Arson 1 —(2
Drug trafficking(3) 1 1
(1) Exceptionally a person sentenced to imprisonment by a magistrates' court on the same occasion for both an indictable offence and a non-indictable offence (which includes drug trafficking) would be counted twice.
(2) Less than ½ per cent.
(3) Comprises drugs offences of unlawful production, unlawful supply, possession with intent to supply unlawfully, and unlawful import and export.