§ Mr. Mikardoasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes were reported in each year from 1979 to 1982 in the London borough of Tower Hamlets on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis; how many arrests and prosecutions were commenced and concluded; what were the results; and if he will publish a summary of the sentences and penalties imposed on those found guilty.
§ Mr. MayhewWe understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information readily available on recorded offences and persons arrested is as 301W given in table 1. The information collected centrally on court proceedings does not enable the London borough of Tower Hamlets to be separately identified but tables 2 and 3 give information on defendants charged with indictable offences where court proceedings were completed during 1981 at magistrates' courts and the Crown court respectively and the initial proceedings occurred at Thames magistrates' court—including Tower Hamlets (east) and City and Tower Hamlets (west) juvenile courts. Data on court proceedings are not yet availalbe for 1982. The other information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Table 2 Defendants proceeded against at Thames magistrates' court* for indictable offences by result of proceedings † Thames magistrates' court 1981* Number of defendants First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Total number proceeded against‡ 508 573 688 559 Proceedings discontinued — 1 1 3 Discharged under section 6 MCA 1980║ 3 5 3 2 Committed for trial in custody 10 24 19 15 on bail 95 94 122 92 Charge withdrawn or dismissed 51 49 53 44 Total found guilty 349 400 490 403 Absolute or conditional discharge 67 78 74 88 Probation 12 17 27 28 Supervision 19 10 13 15 Fine 151 148 207 163 Community service order 9 15 12 15 Attendance centre order 8 24 23 17 Detention centre order 10 11 13 3 Care order 5 3 9 3 Suspended sentence 29 42 42 32 Immediate imprisonment 27 32 48 27 Committed for sentence section 38 MCA 1980║ 5 8 18 6 section 37 MCA 1980║ 5 7 3 3 Otherwise dealt with 2 5 1 3 * Including Tower Hamlets (east) juvenile court and City and Tower Hamlets (west) juvenile court. † The numbers are subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system and are therefore not necessarily accurate to the last digit shown. ‡ Includes a small number of defendants proceeded against following a summons, not arrest. ║ Magistrates' Courts Act 1980. 302W
Table 3 Defendants for trial or sentence for indictable offences* by the Crown court following committal from Thames magistrates' count† by result of proceedings‡ Committals from Thames magistrates' court 1981† Number of defendants First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Total for trial║ 243 148 126 109 Acquitted¶ 86 37 47 30 Total found guilty 157 111 79 79 Total for sentence following conviction at magistrates' courts 6 17 19 11 Total for sentence 163 128 98 90 Absolute or conditional discharge 10 5 7 4 Probation 5 5 8 3 Fine 23 23 8 5 Community service order 11 6 4 6 303W
Table 1 Notifiable offences recorded by the police and persons arrested Tower Hamlets (H district) Year First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Number of notifiable offences recorded by the police 1979 4,659 5,099 4,665 5,192 1980* 4,562 5,066 4,587 4,426 1981* 4,735 5,519 5,070 5,009 1982* 5,335 5,493 5,913 5,993 Number of persons arrested† for notifiable offences 1979 720 789 877 804 1980 691 902 754 523 1981 679 903 696 690 1982 659 699 620 665 * Figures for 1980–82 are not directly comparable with those for 1979 because of the introduction of new counting rules at the beginning of 1980 to improve the consistency of recording offences. † Persons proceeded against by means of a charge, referral to a juvenile bureau, a caution or in some other way; arrests not followed by any action are not included.
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter Detention centre order 2 2 4 1 Care order — — — — Borstal 7 8 8 6 Suspended sentence 28 25 19 23 Immediate imprisonment 74 52 39 40 Otherwise dealt with 3 2 1 2 * Includes a few defendants sentenced for summary offences following conviction and committal for sentence at magistrates' courts. † Including Tower Hamlets (east) juvenile court and City and Tower Hamlets (west) juvenile court. ‡ The numbers are subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system and are therefore not necessarily accurate to the last digit shown. ║ Probably includes a small number of defendants proceeded against following a summons, not arrest. ¶ Includes those not tried; for example, when no evidence is offered by the prosecution.