§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage and how many in number, of defendants who have pleaded not guilty to offences tried in the Crown courts have been acquitted in each of the past five years.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralI have been asked to reply.
The percentage and number of defendants dealt with in the Crown court in each of the years 1980 and 1984 who pleaded not guilty to all counts and who were acquitted on all counts is shown in the following table.
Committals for Trial in the Crown Court in England and Wales Defendants pleading not guilty to all counts Number acquitted on all counts Percentage acquitted on all counts 1980 14,238 50 1981 14,805 50 1982 14,195 49 1983 14,603 50 1984 14,554 51