HL Deb 04 February 1986 vol 470 cc1126-7WA
Lord Blease

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many charges of (i) rape; (ii) attempted rape; and (iii) indecent assault were made in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and what was the respective number of persons accused of each of the above mentioned crimes who were released on bail pending trial in each of the last five years.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Lyell)

Information is not available in the exact form requested. However, the number of persons proceeded against was as follows:—

Year Rape Attempted Rape Indecent Assault
Crown Magistrates Crown Magistrates Crown Magistrates
1980 15 10 9 3 14 58
1981 11 12 7 — 17 60
1982 13 20 5 1 25 62
1983 16 16 6 6 19 67
1984 16 14 4 8 25 81

The number of those proceeded against in the Crown Court includes those referred for trial or sentence from the magistrates' courts. A further breakdown of the figures could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Details of the number of persons who were released on bail is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Lord Blease

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What, in Northern Ireland, was the shortest, the longest and the average period of time (in weeks) during the last three years, from the date of reporting (a) rape, and (b) indecent assault cases to the RUC; and the date of (i) direction as to prosecution from the DPP; and (ii) trial at the Crown Court in those cases which proceeded to that level.

Lord Lyell

Information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Lord Blease

asked Her Majesty's Government:

In how many cases in Northern Ireland, in each of the last five years, was the original charge of rape not upheld, and the accused found guilty on lesser charges.

Lord Lyell

Information is not available in the form requested.

Lord Blease

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many men in Northern Ireland, in each of the last five years, were found guilty of (i) rape; (ii) attempted rape; and (iii) indecent assault; and what was the total amount of criminal injury compensation awarded in respect of each of the above-mentioned crimes in each year.

Lord Lyell

The number of men found guilty of these offences in Northen Ireland was as follows:—

Year Rape Attempted Rape Indecent Assault
1980 14 9 61
1981 9 7 68
1982 10 5 62
1983 15 6 61
1984 14 4 76

The amount of criminal injury compensation awarded for rape, attempted rape and indecent assault is not readily available and could only be ascertained at disproportionate cost.

Lord Blease

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What was the pattern in Northern Ireland of penalties given to those found guilty of (i) rape; (ii) attempted rape; and (iii) indecent assault, in each of the last five years.

Lord Lyell

The pattern of sentences given to those found guilty of these offences in Northern Ireland was as follows:

Rape Attempted Rape Indecent Assault
Year Custodial Non-Custodial Custodial Non-Custodial Custodial Custodial
1980 12 2 7 2 20 41
1981 9 0 7 0 23 45
1982 10 0 5 0 25* 38
1983 12 3 5 1 18 43
1984 11 3 3 1 26 50
* Includes one female