HC Deb 11 December 1985 vol 88 cc646-9W
Mr. John Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many robberies and burglaries took place in Lambeth district in 1984; and how this compares with the number in 1979.

Mr. Mellor

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information available is as given in the following table. It is not possible to specify all the robberies and burglaries that took place since information is only available on those recorded by the police. Figures for 1979 are not directly comparable with those for 1984 because of changes made by new counting rules which were introduced at the beginning of 1980. For this reason, figures are given for 1980 instead of 1979.

Notifiable offences recorded by the police in "L" District (Lambeth) of the Metropolitan Police District
Offences recorded in: Percentage change
1984 1980 1980–84
Robbery 2,015 870 +132
Burglary and going equipped for stealing 10,533 6,640 +59

Mr. Macfarlane

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure before 1955 are still so detained.

Mr. Mellor

According to the records held centrally, on 30 September 1985 two persons were detained during Her Majesty's pleasure in a prison department establishment in England and Wales having been sentenced before 1955. Both had been recalled following release on licence.

Mr. Macfarlane

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners convicted for murder in each year from 1970 to 1977 have since been released from prison; and what was the length of sentence served for each prisoner released.

Mr. Mellor

I shall reply as soon as possible.

Mr. Macfarlane

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convicted murderers released from prison since 1975 have committed murder a second time; and what was the average sentence served for the first offence.

Mr. Mellor

According to the records held centrally, four sentenced murderers released from prison department establishments in England and Wales since 1975 have been sentenced for further murders committed following release. The average time they spent under sentence in prison department establishments in England and Wales for the first murder was about twelve and a half years.

Mr. Macfarlane

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure in each year since 1970.

Mr. Mellor

The information is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables": for 1983 and 1984 in volume 2, table S2.1(A) under offence classification 1 (murder) in column (24); and for earlier years in table S2.1(a)(i).

Mr. Macfarlane

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convictions for manslaughter occurred for each year between 1964 and 1985, resulting in the deaths of children (a) under five years, (b) aged five years to 10 years and (c) aged 11 to 16 years; and what was the average sentence served;

(2) how many children (a) aged under five years, (b) aged five years to 10 years and (c) aged 11 to 16 years have been murdered in each year since 1965.

TABLE 1
Offences currently* recorded as homicide and outcome of proceedings for suspects of victims aged under 16 years England and Wales
Outcome of proceedings for suspects Convicted of homicide
Year and age of victim Total victims Total suspects Total Murder Section 2 manslaughter Other manslaughter Infanticide Not convicted of homicide† Not indicted‡ Awaiting trial
1982
0- 4 55 49 40 3 14 17 6 9
5–10 13 10 6 2 4 4
11–15 22 22 20 12 6 2 2
under 16 90 ║78 64 17 22 19 6 14
1983
0- 4 50 56 51 8 9 24 10 1 4
5–10 7 6 5 3 1 1 1
11–15 9 8 6 4 1 1 2
under 16 75 70 62 15 11 26 10 1 7
1984
0- 4 54 49 26 2 9 13 2 1 9 13
5–10 17 12 7 2 4 1 1 3 1
11–15 15 16 13 2 2 9 2 1
under 16 86 ║74 43 6 13 22 2 2 14 15
* As at 1 June.
† Unfit to plead, not guilty by reason of insanity, acquitted.
‡ Suicide, no proceedings eg on advice of DFP.
║ The totals for individual age groups may not sum to the overall total because some suspects may have been responsible for homicides of victims in more than one age group.

TABLE 2
Suspects convicted of homicide of victims aged under 16 by type of homicide and sentence England and Wales 1984
Age of victim Convicted of Sentence
Immediate imprisonment‡
Total Life† Over four years up to 10 years Four years or under Detention center Hospital Restriction order Hospital order Probation
0–4 Murder 2 2
Section 2 manslaughter 9 2 1 2 2 2
Other manslaughter 13 5 8
Infanticide 2 1 1
5–10 Murder 2 2
Section 2 manslaughter 4 2 2
Other manslaughter 1 1
11–15 Murder 2 2
Section 2 manslaughter 2 1 1
Other manslaughter 9 5 2 2
Under 16║ Murder 6 6
Section 2 manslaughter 13 4 1 3 2 3
Other manslaughter 22 10 10 2
Infanticide 2 1 1

Mr. Mellor

Information on offences of homicide by age of victim is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales": in table 4.6 of the issue for 1984 (Cmnd. 9621) and in the corresponding tables for earlier years. For victims aged under 16, the available information on convictions for murder and manslaughter is given in the following two tables. Provision of corresponding details for earlier years would involve disproportionate cost.

* As at 1 June 1985.
† Including detention under section 53(1) Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and custody for life.
‡ Including detention under section 53(2) Children and Young Persons Act 1933, partly suspended sentence and youth custody.
║ The totals for individual age groups may not sum to the overall total because some suspects may have been responsible for homicides of victims in more than one age group.

Mr. Macfarlane

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure for each year between 1955 and 1970; how many have sought a review of their sentence; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

The information requested on those sentenced to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales". Of the 48 so sentenced in the years 1955 to 1970, one prisoner sentenced in 1965, one sentenced in 1968 and one sentenced in 1969 were still in prison department establishments on 30 September 1985. Statistics of how many such prisoners have sought a review of their sentences by way of an appeal or otherwise are not readily available.