HC Deb 06 July 1981 vol 8 cc12-4W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons sentenced to life imprisonment were released in each of the last 10 years; what was the length of sentence each had actually served; and if any committed further offences after release.

Mr. Mayhew

The following is the information, in respect of England and Wales, asked for in the first two parts of the question.

This Department is aware of 192 offences committed after release by people included in the above table. These were as follows.

Offences
Murder 2
Manslaughter 4
Causing grievous bodily harm 2
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm 18
Wounding 8
Common assault 3
Assaulting a police officer 6
Possessing an offensive weapon 5
Threatening behaviour 3
Rape 2
Buggery 1
Indecent assault 5
Indecent exposure 2
Abducting a girl 2
Unlawful sexual intercourse 3
Robbery 3
Burglary 11
Aggravated burglary 1
Theft 39
Shoplifting 12
Handling stolen goods 4
Arson 1
Offences relating to drugs 7
Drunk and disorderly 8
Damaging property 11
Breach of the peace 1
Motoring offences 28

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons sentenced (a) for murder and (b) to life imprisonment are currently released on licence.

Mr. Mayhew

This information is not available because the death of a released life sentence prisoner is not necessarily known to the Home Office.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons sentenced to prison for murder have been released in each of the last 10 years; how many committed further offences; what was the nature of the offence; and if any committed murder.

Mr. Mayhew

The numbers of persons convicted of murder released from prisons in England and Wales, including persons detained during Her Majesty's pleasure under section' 3(1) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, but not persons who had previously been released on licence and subsequently recalled to prison, were as follows:

Persons convicted of murder released from prison
Number
1971 21
1972 24
1973 29
1974 35
1975 39
1976 62
1977 52
1978 74
1979 64
1980 35
Total 435

This Department is aware of 136 offences committed after release by people included in the above table. These were as follows:

Offences committed after release
Number
Murder 1
Manslaughter 3
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm 13
Wounding 6
Common assault 3
Assaulting a police officer 4
Possessing an offensive weapon 3
Threatening behaviour 3
Rape 2
Indecent assault 5
Indecent exposure 1
Robbery 2
Burglary 3
Aggravated burglary 1
Theft 28
Shoplifting 8
Handling stolen goods 4
Arson 1
Offences relating to drugs 6
Drunk and disorderly 6
Damaging property 7
Breach of the peace 1
Motoring offences 25