§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prosecutions there have been in Northern Ireland for theft of a motor vehicle; and how many of these have been successful.
Magistrates' court Crown court Persons proceeded against Not guilty Guilty Committed for trial at Crown court Proceeded against Guilty Not guilty i. Theft and unauthorised taking of a motor vehicle 1983 77 3 53 21 21 18 3 1984 64 3 47 14 21 20 1 1985 56 5 35 16 16 15 1 ii. Hijacking 1983 38 3 — 35 49 48 1 1984 17 1 — 16 26 26 — 1985 26 2 — 24 40 40 — iii. Taking and driving away and allowing oneself to be carried 1983 553 32 521 — 1984 563 29 533 *1 1985 †615 26 587 *2 * Charges reduced or changed at Crown court. † I regret that the reply given to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North on 7 March did not take account of the persons proceeded against in 1985 for theft and hijacking. These figures are shown separately above.
§ Mr. Oakesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many motor vehicles have been reported stolen in the Province in each of the last three years; and how many of these subsequently have been recovered.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 24 March 1986]: Information on the numbers of vehicles stolen is not available. However, the numbers of vehicles unlawfully taken* in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years, and the numbers of vehicles recovered in each of these years, are as follows:
Vehicles taken† Vehicles recovered 1983 6,346 5,847 1984 6,767 6,206 1985 6,849 6,169 * This term includes theft, taking without the owner's consent and hijacking. † The totals do not include plant and machinery.