§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many life sentence prisoners are now in custody; and how many of these have been convicted of murder, manslaughter, rape, other sexual offences, arson and other offences, respectively.
§ Mr. MellorThe information requested is given in the following table:
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Population* of life sentence prisoners† in prison department establishments on 31 August by offence Offence Number of persons‡ Murder 1,494 Manslaughter 173 Rape 85 Other sexual offences 24 Arson 44 Other offences 113 TOTAL 1,933 * The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate; detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost. † Includes persons detained under section 53, Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and those serving custody for life. ‡Including persons recalled following a release on licence.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many life sentence prisoners have been in prison for 15 years or more, and how many for 20 years or more.
§ Mr. MellorThe latest readily available inform.ation is given in the following table:
Population* of life sentence prisoners† in prison department establishments on 31 August 1984 whose initial reception under sentence was 15 years or more earlier England and Wales Time since initial reception under sentence into a prison department establishment‡ Number of prisoners All Recalled║ 15 years and over of which: 125 35 15 years but less than 20 years 94 19 20 years and over 31 16 * The figures are those recorded centrally and are approximate; detailed checking of individual cases would involve disproportionate cost. † Including persons detained under section 53, Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and those serving custody for life. ‡ Includes time spent on licence by prisoners recalled after having been released on licence. ║ Prisoners who had been recalled after having been released on licence.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the sentenced prison population life sentence prisoners represent; and what proportion of male and female prisoners, respectively, are serving over four years.
§ Mr. MellorOn 31 August, the latest date for which information is readily available, life sentence prisoners, including those detained under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and those sentenced to custody for life, formed about six per cent. of the sentenced population of prison department establishments in England and Wales. About 29 per cent. of the male and about 51 per cent. of the female population serving sentences of over four years were serving life sentences.