HC Deb 30 June 1983 vol 44 cc108-11W
Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers have been murdered in the course of duty in each of the past 30 years.

Mr. Hurd

In England and Wales, one, in 1965.

Mr. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen have been murdered in the course of duty in each of the past 30 years.

Mr. Hurd

In a case of homicide it is not possible in the absence of a court decision to distinguish between offences of murder and manslaughter. The available information is given in the following table:

Offences currently recorded as homicide where the victim was a police officer on duty by the result of court proceedings or other outcome
England and Wales Number of offences
Decided by the court to be
Year initially recorded Number of offences (victims) Murder Sec 2 Manslaughter Other Manslaughter Other outcome
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958 2 1 1
1959 1 1
1960 1 1
1961 2 2*
1962
1963
1964
1965 2 1 1†
1966 4 4
1967 1 1
1968
1969 1 1
1970 1 1
1971 2 2
1972 1 1
1973 2 1
1974 1 1
1975 3 1 1 1‡
1976
1977 1 1
1978 1 1
1979 1 1
1980 1 1
1981 2 1 1
║1982 6 3 2*
* One suspect committed suicide
† Suspect unfit to plead
‡ No suspect
║ Provisional

Mr. Wheeler

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many homicides by shooting there have been since 1967.

Mr. Mellor

The information requested, which is given in the following table, is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales", (table 4.3 of the latest issue for 1981, Cmnd. 8668, and table 9.5 of the volume for 1977, Cmnd. 7289).

Offences currently recorded as homicide by shooting
Year Number of offences
1967 41
1968 40
1969 24
1970 23
1971 36
1972 30
1973 29
1974 46
1975 43
1976 43
1977 28

Year Number of offences
1978 35
1979 48
1980 19
1981 32
1982 *46
* Provisional

Mr. Wheeler

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been convicted of the murder of police officers since 1957; and in each case what was the weapon used.

Mr. Mellor

The available information is given in the following table.

Suspects convicted of murder of police officers on duty by type of weapon used
England and Wales
Year offence initially recorded No of suspects convicted Type of weapon
1957
1958 1 Knife
1959 1 Pistol
1960 1 Car
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965 1 Knife
1966 4 Revolver (3 suspects, 3 victims). Knife
1967
1968
1969
1970 1 Shotgun
1971 3 Pistol. Pistol (two suspects, 1 victim)
1972 1 Shotgun
1973 1 Pistol
1974 1 Pistol
1975 1 Knife
1976
1977 1 Knife
1978 1 Brick
1979
1980 1 Knife
1981 1 Knife
1982* 3 Revolver. Wheelbrace. Sharp instrument
* Provisional.

Mr. Wheeler

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, for the period 1970 to the most recent year, in respect of homicide cases decided by the courts to be murder, he will set out such information as he has as to the number of cases in which the victim was acquainted with the accused; and in how many cases the victim was a member of the suspect's family, such as a spouse or lover.

Mr. Mellon

The readily available information, which is given in the following table, relates to offences currently recorded as homicide and is published annually in -Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" (table 4.4 of the latest issue for 1981, Cmnd. 8668 and table 4.4 of the issue for 1980, Cmnd. 8376). Corresponding information for those offences of homicide decided by the courts to be murder is not readily available.

Offences currently* recorded as homicide by relationship of victim to principal suspect
England and Wales Number of offences
Relationship 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981
Victim acquainted with subject
Son or daughter 46 102 90 61 97 52 74 59 65 68 45 63
Parent 19 12 14 13 18 18 15 12 17 23 18 21
Spouse, cohabitant or former spouse or cohabitant 111 74 71 95 110 93 102 89 102 131 112 115
Other family 25 13 10 13 18 22 15 21 19 12 25 23
Lover or former lover† 18 21 17 12 26 30 39 24 22 25 16 27
Friend or acquaintance 102 76 79 77 91 86 86 79 108 117 99 114
Other associate 36 16 24 15 29 11 25 25 15 27 36 23
Sub-total 357 314 305 286 389 312 356 309 348 403 351 386
Victim not acquainted with suspect
Police or prison officer on duty ‡ ║¶ 1 2 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 1 2
Stranger (acts of terrorism) 4 8 1 43 9 2 3 5 1 4 3
Other stranger 159 61 74 67 62 83 88 77 85 102 153 92
Sub-total 164 63 83 70 106 95 90 81 91 104 158 97
No suspect¶●
Sub-total 43 30 21 35 31 36 43 28 32 41 42 34
Total 564 407 409 391 526 443 489 418 471 548 551 517
* As at 1 June 1982; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.
† Includes spouse's lover or lover's spouse or other associate
‡ Includes cases where no suspect has been charged
|| All victims shown in the period covered by the table were police officers
¶ Until a case is cleared up, the relationship is not classified, except where the vicitim was a police or prison officer on duty or where the offence was attributed to an act of terrorism
● Excluding homicides of police or prison officers and those attributed to acts of terrorism

Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were released from life sentences for murder over the last 10 years; and what was the average length of time served.

Mr. Hurd

We shall reply as soon as possible.

Mr. Peter Bruinvels

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences of homicide of

Offences curently recorded as homicide, where the victim was a police officer on duty by the result of court proceedings or other outcome and police force area
England and Wales 1982* Number of Offences
Number of offences (victims) Decided by the court to be Other outcome Police Force area
Murder Section 2 manslaughter Other manslaughter
2 2 Greater Manchester
1 1 Durham
2 2 (one suspect committed suicide) North Yorkshire
1 1 Hertfordshire
* Provisional