HC Deb 18 February 1985 vol 73 cc376-7W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the current size of the present prison population in Northern Ireland, categorised by age and by sex in the following groups: aged under 18 years, 18 to 25 years, 25 to 30 years, 30 to 40 years, 40 to 50 years. 50 to 60 years and over 60 years; and if he will give a breakdown of the length of sentence being served by percentage of the total prison population;

(2) what is the number of prisoners in Northern Ireland prisons, the age structure of convicted prisoners in the prisons of Northern Ireland and the number of convicted prisoners serving sentences for terrorist offences.

Sentence length
Age Up to 3 months Over 3 months up to 6 months Over 6 months up to 12 months Over 12 months up to 18 months Over 18 months up to 4 years Over 4 years up to 8 years Over 8 years Life Totals Grand total
A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B A B
Under 18 years — — 2 8 — 5 1 1 1 3 2 — — — — — 12 17 29 —
18 years and under 25 years 12 21(2) 16 53(3) 24 62 14 19 19(1) 62 87 8 82(2) 4 26(1) — 340(4) 229(5) 569(9)
25 years and under 30 years 2 9 1 11 6 11 7 6 38 13 64(1) 19 211(9) 3 183(1) — 512(11) 72 584(11)
30 years and under 40 years — 7(2) 1 10 1 16 — 3 14 20 49(1) 11 137(3) — 180 — 382(4) 67(2) 449(6)
40 years and under 50 years 2 4 — 7 — 7(1) 1 3 5 9 13 4 20 1 29(1) 1 70(1) 36(1) 106(2)
50 years and under 60 years — — — 2 — 2 — 3 — 2 2 — 1 2 5 — 7 11 18 —
60 years and over — 1 — 2 — — — — — 1 — — — 1 1 — 1 5 6
Totals 16 42(4) 20 93(3) 31 103(1) 23 35 143(1) 110 216(2) 42 451(4) 11 424(3) 1 1,324(20) 437(8) 1,761(28)
Percentage of population 0.9 2.6 1.1 5.4 1.7 5.8 1.3 2.0 8.0 6.1 12.2 2.3 26.0 0.6 23.9 0.1 75.1 24.9 100

Notes:

1. The figures in Columns A relate to those serving sentences for scheduled offences and those in Column B to all other offences.

2. The figures without brackets related to male inmates and those in brackets to female inmates.

3. The figures include those detained in Young Offenders Centres.

4. Persons detained at the Secretary of State's pleasure are included in the life sentence figures.